John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Currently, county development plans are being discussed by Members and as many members of the public as is possible.

Every effort must be made to ensure we have buy-in from the public so that the plan in each county is reflective of the desire of that county to develop, and to develop where it should. An Bord Pleanála should be taking note of these plans and of the desires and aspirations of local authorities in regard to how they develop their counties. While having some flexibility, it should not be allowed to deviate from the core of a plan.

Irish Water is a big issue in rural Ireland. In my own county, the villages of Thomastown, Inistioge and The Rower are deprived of continued constructive development because they have poor water systems. This must be addressed by way of immediate funding. We have waited far too long for this funding to be put in place. There is now an urgent need to prioritise, or to allow the county councils in each of the counties to prioritise, where the investment needs to take place. There are some estates that are not finished and require essential services to be provided through Irish Water but that is not happening. Some of the estates that are completed are having difficulty getting final clearance from Irish Water for the systems that have been put in place. All of this is being delayed by heavy bureaucracy and that needs to be lightened. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, would immediately investigate and prioritise the rural schemes that are needed to allow villages to develop and move on.

I want to raise the issue of quarries. I have written to the Minister about this issue and I have also raised it publicly and with Laois County Council. In the case of a quarry which has been developed but for which there is no planning permission historically - it needs to fulfil its planning obligations by reinstating the land, but that is not happening - we need the Minister or the departmental officials to insist that the local authorities act to protect our environment, support the people who live in the area and expect the lands to be reinstated. Where this is not happening, there must be some mechanism whereby the Department or An Bord Pleanála can intervene immediately and deal with the matter. Otherwise, we are leaving the matter open to continued argument and contention between the local government in question - I am citing Laois County Council as an example - and an individual and that is an unfair playing field. Local government must put right the wrong that is being done in that county, allow the public consultation to take place and ensure the individuals concerned who wish to have the quarries properly wound up and closed have a voice. That is not happening at the moment. I urge the Minister to take a look at the representations he has received in relation to this issue and to take constructive action.

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