Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister of State and wish him well in his new role. As colleagues have said, the real challenge relates to delivery and ensuring we have homes for all those who live here, which is the biggest challenge facing the Government. Following on from what my party colleague Deputy McAuliffe talked about, I will talk about delivery, especially in the context of the infrastructure that is needed to support that. This applies in particular to water infrastructure. We have had problems with Uisce Éireann, which needs to see itself as part of the solution in doing this. I have talked to representatives of the agency, however, and they talk about the necessary water infrastructure. Building 50,000 homes is going to cost €1.7 billion. As a State, we are going to have to invest that kind of money in our water infrastructure to ensure we can construct 50,000 homes, and we need to front-load that.

Another critical point, as the Minister of State will be aware in the context of rural communities, is that one our current challenges, if we are to move away from one-off rural housing, which there are solid planning reasons for doing save where it is a family living on the land, we should incentivise people to live in the villages where they grew up, work and have connections. The problem, however, as the Minister of State knows, is that there is not sufficient water capacity in most of our villages. In my constituency, Camolin and Ferns, in north County Wexford, and Aughrim, in south County Wicklow, have been waiting for 20-plus years. It would take pressure off some of the communities that are under pressure for housing if housing could be built in those communities but because there is not adequate water and wastewater infrastructure, it is not possible to do so.

A further critical point concerns road infrastructure. It is important that the Department considers again announcing a local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF. The LIHAF is essential for unlocking lands. The Minister of State will be very familiar with it in Limerick. For us in Gorey, it is absolutely vital that a road and a bridge be built at the St. Waleran’s site to unlock 73 acres of land in order that social, affordable and private housing can be built.

The first home scheme is very successful but there are a lot of anomalies in the scheme. I understand why it is based on local authority areas but I would prefer if, rather than using county council areas, local electoral areas might be considered. I appreciate it is more difficult to do that but the price ceiling in Wicklow is €475,000, whereas in Wexford it is €350,000 and that figure was not increased in December, which we all hoped would be the case. Gorey, with which the Minister of State will be very familiar, is one of the fastest growing communities in the country and it is very difficult to get a three-bedroom house there for €350,000, yet just up the road in Carnew, the ceiling is €475,000. Having such a big split on county boundaries is a difficulty, and I ask that measures be considered in respect of the first home scheme and the price ceilings.

I listened to the discussion on the issue of log cabins. They cannot be seen as a solution for everything but there are certain circumstances where it can allow an elderly parent to right-size and live independently. Similarly, and my party colleague Deputy Lahart correctly identified this as a common concern, it may allow the elderly parents of an adult child with special needs to live independently but still close to their child. I have spoken to some of the financial institutions about this, however, and there is going to be a reluctance on their part to lend for construction in this regard in case there are issues relating to title and questions as to who will end up owning the log cabin or separate home, especially if it is registered on the same folio. While it will not be a solution in every circumstance, I hope that if this policy is teased out, all these matters will be given consideration.

We need more planners and we need to fast-track providing them, whether through additional places in universities or visas for planners from abroad. All our local authorities are crying out for them and they are critical. The Planning and Development Act is very important legislation but if we do not have enough planners, we are going to be in trouble. It is important also that when we debate housing, we are not just building homes for people but also building communities. It is critical that there be co-ordination between the Departments of Health, Education and Transport to ensure the necessary facilities are put in place to meet the housing demand. I represent Gorey, which has had a 14% growth in the inter-census period, and Arklow, which, thanks to the investment by the previous Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in wastewater facilities, is on the cusp of growing rapidly. It is critical for our communities that we ensure we have enough doctors, dentists, school places and so on, and sometimes there is a bit of a lag with other Departments.

Deputy O'Gorman said the town centre first policy is especially important. In that regard, it is essential that there be a review of the fire regulations, which was due to happen. The Minister of State might be able to indicate what is happening in that regard with modern sprinkler systems and escape routes. That should help with above-the-shop living if it is possible.

As for new construction methods, I was heartened to see the development of the 3D-printed homes in County Louth.

I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister's Department and was heartened by the openness on the part of the Department, but as a new way of home construction it does need to be actively explored.

See this speech in context