Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue for discussion. We never thought that a year on we would be making the same case for these people who have been to hell in relation to this issue.

It appears that over the past 12 months the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, has passed the buck on Priory Hall and these people remain abandoned as far as we can ascertain. As Deputy Broughan stated, we reiterate the fact we want the Minister to meet the residents to discuss funding mechanisms for the remedial works and help find a permanent solution to the current plight of the 260 residents, many of whom are paying hefty mortgages on uninhabitable homes. Without doubt, this must be addressed.

The Minister stated he has not met the residents because of ongoing legal proceedings, that he must respect the independence of the designated authority, Dublin City Council, and that he cannot interfere in individual cases. Based on the failure of all parties and those in officialdom to address this issue, the time has long since passed to bring about a resolution. The conciliation process must be brought to a conclusion. If this means interference by the Minister with responsibility in this regard, then let this be the case.

On a related issue, on the day when local government reform has been published by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, we have not seen the appointment of a planning regulator, as was Judge Mahon's wish. In recent years we have not seen proper funding put in place to augment, help and support enforcement officers in local authorities whose role could be that bit more real were they to have the resources to pursue planning, development, health and safety and building control regulations, which is their remit. I plead with the Minister to reconsider the appointment of a planning regulator to enforce proper procedures and guidelines on planning throughout the local government sector.

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