Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

He has left now, but first I congratulate the new Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, on his appointment. He was here earlier. I thank Deputies Joan Collins and Pringle and the group for bringing forward this motion. As a county councillor over a long number of years, I saw local development charges being hoisted and foisted onto people going in for planning permission for their houses, especially in rural areas. It always stuck in the craw that they did not know where this money was going to be spent. Often, you would be told that it was for the common good but effectively the public lights, the footpaths and all the other amenities would be in the town, not in the rural areas. The idea here is to recognise that when money is levered off people who are building their own houses, some of it should be spent in the local area for the enjoyment of the people who pay the money. It would help with many things, including rural schools where there are issues with set-down areas and safety outside the school. It could be spent on an area where a bus could pull in for children to alight rather than doing it on the side of the road. These small, very important safety works could be carried out with the help of some of this funding. Another issue is public lighting outside community centres in areas outside small villages which are in darkness at night time. It is a safety and security issue that public lighting would be provided in these kinds of places.

Many communities do a great amount of work across the country. Last Sunday in my local area of Caherlistrane, there was a senior citizens party in the local community centre entirely funded by local people. We have one next Sunday in Belclare. It is the same thing. These senior citizens parties bring out everyone in the community but we are funding it ourselves. It is important that recognition is given to the communities that are doing this kind of work. This is being repeated across the country. Great benefit is accruing to those who volunteer to do this kind of work. We need to ring-fence some of this development money so that it is spent locally. That is the key to the motion. The Government could direct local authorities to use all the development charges they take in for the common good, with a small portion, 20%, being retained within the municipal district in which it was charged. This is important because when a playground is put in, it takes money to maintain and upgrade it and ensure it is kept to the highest safety standards. Money is needed to keep these things sustainable. This is one way of doing it. We have an opportunity here and we should take it.

I believe the Government will not oppose the motion. I hope it is not like other motions which the Government does not oppose but instead confines to the bin. That is the Government's way of saying that it is done and moving on to the next issue. It is very important that this is treated right and that the local authorities and local groups have a say in how the money is being spent. Our local councillors would also have a say. That is where we are talking about local government and community involvement and also giving the benefit where it is most needed and local people know it is needed.

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