Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to get the opportunity to speak to this very important Bill, which provides for an extension of two or more years for developments that may not have been completed and where coronavirus caused buildings to be held up. Certainly, we must ensure that there is an extension of at least two years.

We have many problems in County Kerry with regard to planning and building houses. While Dublin has its problems, we have our own different problems in Kerry. We have designations such as urban-generated pressure, which is to prevent people from a town or village building outside the town or village. On top of that, it hurts the people who have lived in those areas all their lives. Only family members can get permission in these urban-generated pressure zones. Someone could have lived next door all their life and been brought up there. That person will not be considered for permission at all, even if he or she gets a site from his or her neighbour, friend or whoever at a reasonable price. That person is condemned to building or buying in a town or village where the prices are exorbitant. That is the truth in Killarney, Tralee, Dingle and other places. People cannot go outside the town or village where they could get a site. This is hurting ordinary couples who just want to put a roof over their heads.

Another core group of people are also being denied. Villages such as Brosna, Asdee, Scartaglin, Castleisland and Currow have no sewerage scheme. It is a pity for Deputies to break up or change guard in the middle of one's presentation. Many villages and towns do not have a sewerage scheme. Yet, the regulator is saying people cannot build one-off houses in the country but must build them in the town. Places such as Beaufort have no sewerage plant. As I said, we also have places like Currow. None of those villages can expand or develop because they do not even have a sewerage scheme.

The regulator is telling people and the local authority that it cannot allow one-off houses here or there, and puts in special designations. That is very unfair and hard on people because they have no options. The Minister must realise that. Perhaps the Minister does not realise that because he is a Dublin Deputy, and that is fine. He does not, however, understand what is happening in County Kerry when the regulator comes down. Why even have councillors in the Killorglin municipal area? They zoned two or three acres for Mick O'Connell - the most famous footballer of all time. They granted him zoning to build three houses. The regular came down and did not even send a message. It does not even know where Valentia Island is and it stopped him building and zoning the land, for which the councillors voted. That is very wrong. I say, either zone plenty of land or do not zone any land. Let every planning application stand on its own two feet.

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