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

I welcome the Bill, particularly the changes relating to the importance of local authorities. They have been taken for granted for far too long. We have moved away from the full meaning of local authorities and what they deliver to the people they represent. In the context of the pre-planning phase, I fully agree that there must be greater consultation with the local communities involved. That can be enforced or enhanced by having proper planning through the councils in terms of what they want the land used for or what the desire of the local community might be. There can be an input from long before the pre-planning stage to establish what type of development is required or wanted in that area in terms of housing, infrastructure and facilities. When a developer comes in at a pre-application phase, that must be opened up more by involving people, publicity and ensuring people know what is happening. Much of the angst that can be created by lack of information at that point can be relieved through the transparency that will be provided at the pre-application phase.

I am glad there is an eight-week timeframe and a 16-week timeframe for the other two phases. I have seen many worthwhile projects being delayed repeatedly by lack of information of some kind and by misunderstanding. Good applications simply get caught up in the system, thereby depriving people of the possibility of having their own home in their locality. I encourage the Minister to ensure that local authorities, from the pre-planning phase, have their plans in place, know what they want and are prepared to engage with local communities. If the Minister is spending in excess of €4 billion per year and trying to eliminate one of the worst housing crises in the history of the State, there must be greater efficiency where this all begins, which is at planning level.

We have spoken of the involvement of communities and of local authorities being imaginative in how they present their plans. As some sites are shoehorned into local communities or become additions, I hope we are not creating difficulties for ourselves down the road. It is essential to have high standards in the units being provided and the amenities within the development. We need to ensure that the houses are not on top of each other, that there is ample car parking space and that there are facilities for children to enable families to develop and establish local communities. A community cannot be retrofitted to a housing estate that is poorly developed or badly managed. I encourage all concerned, developers, planners and the Department, to have those rules and regulations in place to ensure we get the best outcomes for the families who will live in these housing estates in the future.

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