Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the members of the Rural Independent Group for bringing forward this motion. It is very well-intentioned, but we will be opposing it because it fails to recognise the progress being undertaken to encourage growth and development in rural Ireland in a way consistent with our national planning policies and the substantial public investment underpinning them. I assure Deputies that the Government's plan is working, and we are committed to achieving success to benefit rural areas across the country.

I will deal with the points that were raised. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Government support the continued supply of housing in rural areas. If we look at the statistics from the CSO, we can see that the number of rural houses that were completed has increased since 2020. The number last year was 5,552. It was 4,736 in 2021, which is an increase of 786. We support that continued supply. We are in the process of completing updated rural housing planning guidelines.We want to ensure they are consistent with current requirements in legislation at national and EU level in the context of matters relating to rural housing, such as environmental protection, the Gaeltacht and climate action. We are looking for the guidelines to continue to provide for new housing in rural areas and support the development of rural communities.

I will touch on a number of points that were raised, one of which was with regard to log cabins. There is nothing in the national policy that dictates the type of materials that can be used in housing. This matter has come up repeatedly. There is no prohibition on the use of timber construction from a planning perspective. The overall planning permission proposal system is saturated with regard to national, regional and local planning policy.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan referred to having an expert in timber leaf. I have no doubt that Deputy O'Donoghue will probably know much more about that from a technical point of view, but it is something we will look at in order to ascertain the position.

The other issue on which I want to provide an update on behalf of the Minister is the Croí Cónaithe scheme. We expect to issue a revised circular later today which states that the grant of €30,000 will now go to €50,000 if a property is vacant for more than two years. That will rise to €70,000 if the property is derelict and was built pre 2007. That applies in rural areas. There is no location in Ireland to which it does not apply. That is extremely important.

I also take on board the points made by Deputy Paul Murphy, although he has not remained in the Chamber. We fundamentally disagree with Deputy Murphy. He is ideologically driven. His suggestions are not based on the practicalities of building houses. The State cannot do everything and, effectively, he has basically come up with suggestions. He is like the dog who wants to chase every car that goes by. The bottom line is that we have to work in a balanced way to get houses built. The State needs to build houses, which we have done. We built more than 10,000 last year. The private sector needs to build and the AHBs need to be involved. If Members ask people whether they are concerned about who actually builds social houses, the answer will be that they are not; they want the houses. We need to get houses built quickly. Deputy Paul Murphy is ideologically driven. Effectively, the State should do everything and the private sector should not have a role. We have brought in the measures. The development levies have been suspended for a year and it is the same with water charges. They apply to once-off rural houses as well. That should bring down the cost, which is hugely important.

I will take up a couple of points made by Deputy Canney about the legacy estates and water schemes and treatment plants. Maybe he will come back to us on that. The Minister is looking at applications from the various local authorities on wastewater treatment plants for systems for individual villages. He is giving that priority at the moment.

Deputy McNamara made reference to An Bord Pleanála. I cannot comment on individual cases. We are bringing in through the planning Bill defined timelines in terms of decisions to be made by An Bord Pleanála. From my perspective, we want people to be able to build once-off rural houses. We want them to be able to be part of the fabric of rural Ireland. It is hugely important that we continue to get the balance correct. The national planning framework objectives, together with the previous 2005 guidelines, will enable planning authorities which are in situto continue to prepare and adopt development plan policies for once-off authorities houses in rural areas. Last year, more than 5,500 once-off rural houses were completed. That is an increase of 16% on last year. The Government is also providing significant investment in rural Ireland including 215 projects worth a total of €542 million under the rural regeneration and development fund and more than €149 million through the town and village renewal scheme since 2016. These investment programmes and others align with Our Rural Future and are transforming rural communities with new infrastructure and public amenities for our citizens.

I will make reference to one issue. People with a rural house qualify for the help-to-buy scheme if it is their first home.

That is hugely important. In many cases, it means a deposit for young people. We want to see people living in rural Ireland but we want it to happen in a sustainable way. We want to see the local authorities involved in building houses. In addition, we want the Croí Cónaithe scheme to be taken up in abundance. Young people or the children of farmers can purchase derelict houses and apply under the Croí Cónaithe scheme to bring them back to life. In many cases, people are buying older houses to enhance them for planning purposes. Some €20,000 is available if a building has been vacant for more than two years and €50,000 is available if a building is derelict. The house needs only to have been built before 2007. We want to see those properties being brought back for rental purposes as well. That must be looked at in abundance.

I will pick up on a point made by Deputy Ó Ríordáin. Most counsellors, public representatives and builders are doing their jobs in what they believe to be the best possible fashion. There are cowboys in every profession-----

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