Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak to this motion on planning and rural housing. There is no doubt that this is an extremely important issue, particularly for those of us living in rural Ireland, and there is no doubt that the Government has failed spectacularly in addressing the current housing crisis. Recent EUROSTAT figures say it all. Ireland is the most expensive country in the EU, along with Denmark, and the cost of housing here is 88% higher than the EU average. That is an absolute disgrace, yet the Government's response has not only been wholly inadequate but has actually exacerbated the problem. Schemes like help-to-buy, a scheme accessible only to those who already have a significant wage, only drive up costs even further and price many out of ever buying or building their own home.

Our current planning system plays a role in contributing to the housing crisis, and I agree with the motion's statement that the planning system in Ireland is "dysfunctional, outdated, and not fit for purpose". It is, however, not the fault only of An Bord Pleanála that that is the case. It is especially the case in rural Ireland, where planning has become increasingly difficult to achieve. I believe we need to significantly increase development of our rural towns, and not just our bigger towns but our smaller villages too. If we are serious about repopulating our rural areas, this type of development needs to be prioritised. It is not enough to develop areas such as Donegal town and Glenties, although development there is critically needed too. We need to look at further developing villages such as Teelin, Carrick and Glencolumbkille. We need proper policy that prioritises the development of rural areas, and I support the call for that in the motion. We need to strike a balance when it comes to planning. We also need to look beyond the taxation system and actually stimulate that growth in rural towns and villages. We need the councils and local authorities to take a more active role to make that development happen.

I also support the motion's call to allow sustainable log cabins to be constructed. Log cabins are energy-efficient, durable and a suitable housing alternative for parts of rural Ireland. These are the types of alternative solutions the Government needs to consider, instead of relying on private developers. Private developers will not fix the housing crisis. They played a large part in creating it.

The overreliance on the private sector has brought us here in the first place and it certainly will not bring us back out. By the looks of it, neither will this Government. The amendment it has tabled is laughable. It is the same old spin and bluster. One line refers to "funding streams for rural development" and mentions the local improvement scheme. My office has been dealing with dozens of stagnant local improvement scheme applications, including some that have not progressed in ten years. It is clear that current funding streams are not sufficient and not helping rural communities in any effective way. It is time for the Government to publish the long-awaited rural guidelines and to invest properly in rural Ireland, with Government investment rather than tax breaks.

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