Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Ceann Comhairle and their respective offices for affording me the opportunity to raise once again the stalled development of the town centre in Naas. This has been a blight on the town for almost ten years now and I think everyone has tried their best to move the development onwards and get the works rolling and restarted once again. It is especially timely to mention the fact that Naas is the county town of Kildare. It always has been a busy and very important market town. For reasons outside the control of local administration, the downturn in the economy affected it very severely, and the cranes that were there at the beginning are still there. I hope this is the last time I have to raise the issue of the immobile cranes on the horizon in the town of Naas.

Since I last raised the issue in the House, there have been some positive developments but they are extremely slow. Despite countless meetings and discussions in recent times with the local authority, the legal people, NAMA and the receiver's representatives, who have all been helpful and positive in what they have to do, one matter is outstanding. I refer to the legal issues concerning rights of way, which I am glad to note are now at least going to the High Court for resolution. While this might take some time, it is to be hoped that we will see these issues resolved before the end of this year.

In the meantime, it is important to use the time available to all administrators, including the Minister and the local authority, to assess the situation once again in order to ascertain whether further planning permission is required. For instance, if all planning permissions relating to the site have to be renewed, that will take some considerable time. Therefore, I ask that in the downtime we have, while awaiting the outcome of the remaining issues, the local authority and the Minister engage with a view to clarifying, at least - I hope ensuring - that planning permission is not required or that part of the development can proceed without new planning permission. As we all know, there is always the danger of long delays in cases of developments of this nature. At this stage, what is important is that nothing falters from here on. We cannot afford that to happen. There are about five prime sites within the town boundaries - the main one to which I refer and four others - all of which are available. It was sad that the major commercial development moved outside the town. It was not the local authority's decision, but rather An Bord Pleanála's, to move the development outside of the town and with it bring the footfall that is the necessary lifeblood of every commercial centre in the country.

I ask the Minister to use his influence with the local authority and seek its full co-operation in speeding up the administrative procedures now required as a matter of urgency. If this is done now in the downtime we have, I think we can look forward to an early and positive start of the development at the town centre in Naas, with obvious consequential benefits for the entire area.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this issue again. It could be the fifth or sixth time we have debated it-----

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It is about that.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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-----so I understand and appreciate the Deputy's eagerness to have the matter resolved. I have seen the site and understand even from the point of view of having passed through the town how important it is that this site be developed or resolved one way or the other. I therefore understand Deputy Durkan's and the council's desire to keep raising the matter at every opportunity they can in order to keep pushing it.

However, as indicated in previous replies, the management of the stalled development in Naas is a matter for Kildare County Council in the first instance. Furthermore, with processes under way involving both NAMA and arbitration, it would be improper for me, as Minister of State, to become involved.

It is not appropriate to accept representations on this issue as, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, the Minister is precluded from exercising any power or control in respect of any case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be involved except in very specific circumstances, which do not appear to apply in this case.

Nonetheless, I am informed that Kildare County Council continues to do everything in its power to influence and encourage NAMA to offer the site in question for sale as soon as possible. The council has been notified that a receiver has been appointed in respect of the town centre site.

As previously outlined, and subject to a satisfactory planning approval, there is no impediment to accessing the site or to appropriate development of the site. Kildare County Council recognises the strategic importance of the site in question and will continue to support and work in partnership with any stakeholders involved in its redevelopment. I will pass on the Deputy's suggestion to Kildare County Council that it might be able to progress or respond to the planning questions in parallel with the legal issues that are developing because that makes common sense. I am not in a position to instruct the council in any way in this regard but I will pass on the Deputy's thoughts and advice on the matter. We can have that conversation with the council.

During the past 18 months, Kildare County Council has initiated and supported a number of projects with the strategic objective of ensuring that the social and economic development of Naas is protected and enhanced. This work is underpinned by the work of the Naas roads and transport steering group, the URBACT group and the Naas Regeneration Group.

Kildare County Council has also received the approval of the National Transport Authority to prepare a traffic management study for Naas which will form one element of a strategic social and economic plan for the town.

Having talked to Deputy Durkan, I have no doubt but that he is very frustrated by the length of time it is taking to get this matter resolved and I know that the local authority is doing all it can within the parameters of its role and recognising the due process necessary in respect of the receivership etc. I am hopeful that, with the appointment of the receiver, there will be further progress to resolve the matter and facilitate the development of this strategic town centre site as quickly as possible and the resolution of the other legal issues that are developing.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. As I have said before, it is like "Waiting for Godot", to the extent that I almost expect Godot to turn up at some stage in the not-too-distant future. I know the Minister cannot instruct the local authority but I suggest that the Minister might consider at a certain time encouraging and facilitating the local authority and inviting it to a meeting at which these issues could be discussed, with a view to applying sufficient encouragement to try to emphasise the urgent necessity to get the project moving once again. The reason for this is simply as follows. According to the old saying, as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle knows, "live horse and you'll get grass". However, if one waits too long for the grass to grow, the horse will die. We need this to move forward now. Ten years is long enough. The town is now beginning to experience a little bit of a recovery following the downturn in the economy, and it would be hugely important and hugely beneficial if it were possible to identify the positives, effecting investment in the town being one of the major positives. It would not be a great idea to have to wait for another year or two while the administrative works are carried out. The construction works on the town centre are already substantially complete and there is a huge issue regarding whether or not there will be a need for further planning permission.

I do not wish to delay the proceedings of the House. I thank the Minister for coming into the House to reply and I appeal to all concerned, all the bodies - we all know who they are: ten years is long enough. Godot or no Godot, we need to apply pressure from all sides to bring about a speedy resolution to something that has confused and frustrated us up to now.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I agree with Deputy Durkan that we, as a planning Department, must do all we can to make this happen. If we can help in any way with planning queries or other issues surrounding this matter, and if Kildare County Council seeks our help in that regard, we will be able to engage with the council. There is no problem whatsoever facilitating a meeting if needs be. If there are any planning or interpretive planning issues, our planning team, headed by Niall Cousins, is there to be able to deal with them. We can engage if we can help with that at all. Wearing my urban regeneration hat, I can say we want to see buildings such as this one which have been lying idle for a long number of years brought back into use as this enhances the town overall. If we can help under that heading, we will. While we cannot get involved in site-specific issues surrounding the planning and the legalities of the matter and so on, there is absolutely no doubt but that where we can help, the door is open to try to do so as best as we possibly can. We will have more meetings with Kildare County Council on general housing issues and other issues. As at previous meetings, I will raise this issue with the council for discussion. I know from talking to Kildare County Council that it also wants this resolved. Its staff look out the windows of their office and can see the site most days so I think they understand the importance of it and want to have it developed as well. I hope that will happen quite quickly.