Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)

I thank Sinn Féin for this extremely important motion. In the majority of towns and cities across the country, there are very serious difficulties with public infrastructure and this is having a knock-on effect on the development of housing. The provision of housing is by far the greatest issue of our time and of our generation as politicians. I am a 25-year-old still living at home, like an enormous number of people my age. Approximately 70% of us are locked at home, unable to privately rent or to afford a house. That is simply not good enough.

I want to raise a specific issue in my constituency of Cork North-Central. In my home town of Mallow, we need substantial economic, social and housing growth. However, because of the lack of public infrastructure, the building of homes is happening with inadequate resources to deal with the level of cars and pedestrians. This is not an attack on private developers. It is important that they play a role in the delivery of housing. However, if we are going to leave the building of homes to private developers, that work needs to be matched by the Department by way of the provision of good infrastructure. In Mallow, we have a number of developments either taking place or for which planning permission is being granted. In the area where I live, Castle Park, planning permission for a large residential development of 469 houses has been sanctioned, alongside the existing 500 homes. Residents in the area have made it quite clear that they are not against the housing development, but they cannot accept that level of development because of the inadequate public infrastructure. Therefore, an appeal is to be lodged with An Bord Pleanála to stop this development of 469 houses.

That brings me to the main focus of my contribution. We need the Government to build the Mallow relief road. Over the past three years, just over €1 million has been sanctioned for that project, despite Cork County Council requesting far more. In response to the number of parliamentary questions I have asked regarding this project since my election to the Dáil, the answers continue to remain piecemeal and lack any commitment to a timeframe in getting shovels in the ground. We have housing developments taking place in a number of areas, including Castle Park, St. Joseph's Road, Spa Glen and Kennel Hill. All of those projects need the Mallow relief road to be delivered. I agree with those in this House who say that sustainable means of transport must be an option. However, in rural parts of Ireland, we are unlucky in that a car is still a necessity. Although we have fantastic rail lines and we have bus services, the car is still essential.

That is what is most important. I invite the Minister of State to come to Mallow and stand on the main street with me. He will then see the traffic congestion crisis that is not allowing houses to be built.

That brings me to water infrastructure. I had a very constructive meeting with a private developer in Mallow yesterday. He told me that in over 70% of developments, Irish Water is the issue with progress. He has been awaiting a response to a question for over eight months. This shows a complete lack of accountability. There is a large residential development on Station Road in Blarney. I invite the Minister of State to visit the road itself. He will see the narrow road. The entrance to that development will be on that narrow stretch of road. Having met with a number of residents in the area, they also pointed out that they are not against housing. They are against the lack of public infrastructure. They have serious concerns about roads, drainage issues and village community infrastructure.

I welcome housing developments and the building of homes. Every second person who contacts me mentions private rental and social housing. However, if the Government is going to rely on private developers to build homes, it must meet them halfway and put in the necessary infrastructure. I implore the Minister of State to work with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to build the Mallow relief road.

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