Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the publication of these guidelines. They are a vital element of the redevelopment and the substantial work associated with the population regeneration of rural Ireland. This is the second piece of critical work done by the Oireachtas in the past 18 months. The first piece was done on the Nice treaty soon after the elections. Anyone who lives in, comes from or has a regard for rural Ireland will agree. There is a level of consensus developing between both sides of the House. I was somewhat disappointed with the earlier contributions from the Opposition because it was an attempt to play politics while the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government was here. It does nothing for those of us who have great regard for rural Ireland and the difficulties it has faced.

Senator Henry understands some of the problems clearly. I do not share her view on how to answer these problems. She talked about the lack of jobs in rural areas. We are well aware of the difficulty associated with the move away from the agricultural sector and a consequent loss of jobs, something with which the Minister will be familiar. Those of us involved in the agricultural sector will be familiar with the difficulties in that regard due to the latest proposals from Brussels which will have implications for those who work on farms. We will see less people involved in farming over the next number of years. Larger farms will develop and less people will work in that environment. It is incumbent on this Government and future governments to develop a strategy for job creation in rural areas. We will soon debate the work of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in terms of job creation.

It is a chicken and egg scenario. Business people and industrialists interested in investing in Ireland tend to go where the labour market is situated, which is significantly based around large urban areas, generally on the east coast. Unless we can assure people that it will be possible to get planning permission in rural areas, it is unlikely that industrialists will want to base themselves in an area where it is virtually impossible for their workers to live.

Senator Henry raised the issue of the urban-rural bias. Certain people in urban areas are concerned that it is their tax euro that are subventing those of us based outside the pale. Who has paid for the infrastructure projects on the east coast, such as Luas, the port tunnel and other large-scale multi-million pound projects? Senator Henry spoke about the cost associated with providing transport networks to assist people. Senator Glynn spoke about adequate levels of public transport for the elderly. The costs associated with this transport are negligible in comparison to the investment that has been made in the east coast. If we are serious as a society, as the Government is, about balanced regional development and if people on the east coast are prepared to see investment in the west, creating a counter-base on the west coast, there is a benefit to people in the cities. The more people who decide to live outside the large urban areas, the greater the capacity there is to alleviate congestion. Balanced regional development works for everyone, including the west and small communities. Senator McHugh addressed that necessity to build and develop strong communities. The only way to do this is to let people live and work in their own area. These guidelines have clearly focused on this issue.

There were comments that the guidelines are an election ploy. I will not discuss it as it was addressed, but the bottom line is there will be an election every second year anyway. Should the Government do nothing for the year or should it run the country? Senator McHugh spoke about the period from September to the present, when the Minister announced these guidelines. That is five months and much work was done. The Senator will be aware of the detailed documentation surrounding these guidelines as he has an interest in this area. It was a marvellous achievement to get that amount of work done. The Minister and his officials should be complimented on the immense amount of work they have done to develop the details behind the policy statement made. What is wrong with Fianna Fáil backbenchers meeting in Sligo, identifying a problem and doing something about it? It shows that parliamentary democracy works and that democracy within Fianna Fáil works. It shows that when we represent views to the leadership and the Cabinet they listen. I am delighted that the Cabinet and the Minister in particular have listened on this occasion and have delivered a set of guidelines which will see significant changes. In my county of Clare there are changes which will make it easier for people to live in the more depopulated areas, especially on the west coast. That is important as large tracts of County Clare fall within the CLÁR area because it has suffered depopulation between the two censuses. It is vitally important that areas like those in Clare are assisted to allow housing development to anyone who has a credible site, has safety measures built in and has the capacity to have acceptable percolation tests done. That is the only way people will return to rural areas.

I compliment our councillors and officials in Clare who have done tremendous work in developing conditions to permit a reduction in planning refusals over the past number of years. Clare has been to the forefront in addressing many of these issues. There has not been the same level in other counties. A great difficulty for Clare County Council was the concerns expressed by An Taisce which appealed decisions to An Bord Pleanála. I am delighted that An Bord Pleanála will be required to observe the guidelines for its decisions. That is critical. Many councils were concerned their work would be overturned by An Bord Pleanála and that created a type of big brother situation. Obviously that provision remains, as it should. It will be useful in terms of adherence to the guidelines.

An Taisce has been a hobby horse of many in this House for some time, myself included. The issue of people in ivory towers dictating to those of us who live and deal with people in rural Ireland who fail to obtain planning permission is of grave concern. Such people have a genuine contribution to make to such areas. Often people in An Taisce and other organisations fortunate to buy land and obtain planning permission seek to build five mile walls around their land to ensure no one else can build in the area. That type of mentality must stop and will stop as a result of these guidelines. They will cause a seismic shift in terms of assumptions associated with the delivery of planning. The assumption now will be that one is entitled to planning permission rather than that one is not entitled to it. Many issues such as safety and so on remain to be addressed.

The term "bungalow blitz" coined by The Irish Times resurfaced at the weekend. On the one hand, the Opposition, for its own reasons, is saying the guidelines will have no real effect and will not improve the lot of people seeking planning. On the other hand, The Irish Times tells us there will be a bungalow blitz, with little bungalows mushrooming all over the country. There is obviously a gap somewhere in the middle.

The Minister has included in the guidelines a reference to the use of natural products and materials in local areas. Local authorities have made some sensible decisions over the past number of years in terms of the quality of design and insistence on design in particular areas blending in with the natural background. Another issue not mentioned in the guidelines is the safety aspect of site specific issues. This matter needs to be addressed. Many people are refused planning because their proposed house would be too close to a turn in the road or because the site is unsuitable. There is a need to put pressure on the professionals who draw up plans for houses and undertake site surveys. We must pressurise such professionals to recognise a difficulty in advance rather than submitting an application which is in breach of certain guidelines, thereby leaving local representatives to deal with the problem. Perhaps the Minister would consider establishing a code of practice or guidelines for professionals involved in this area.

There have been a number of holiday home developments in County Clare given the nature of its tourism. Such developments, some along the west coast, which are tax designated probably do no good for the area in terms of aesthetics. They are utilised for a short time during the summer months which provides some positive impact. I welcome the provisions relating to the development of such holiday homes in a cluster rather than a fragmented formation. That would help to overcome some of the concerns raised by Senator Henry as regards one-off holiday homes which do nothing for a community. Many Senators have expressed concerns on this issue. However, the Minister has dealt with the matter sensibly.

The guidelines form part of the overall approach to the national spatial strategy and that is to be welcomed. It shows a type of cohesive approach to regional development. Previously, a site located in an SAC or NHA was automatically excluded from planning. That provision created many difficulties for farmers throughout the country. Farmers were unable to go ahead with planning as a result of that designation. In many cases, such areas were so designated against the will of the farmer concerned and often rendered his or her land useless. Under the new guidelines, such planning will be permitted and that is helpful.

Another hobby horse is the idea that the only time a farmer should be allowed to build on his land is when the dwelling is for his son or daughter. I have a fundamental objection in this regard. Many small farmers with sites that have a little road frontage might wish to sell off a site to obtain money to educate their children. There is nothing wrong with that. I am against locking people into situations where they can build a house on their land for only one child. They should be permitted to build whether they have five, ten or 15 children. However, a farmer with 15 children would end up with a pretty big village and would probably have to seek some other type of designation. That is an important issue. We all know people in rural Ireland who have sold a site to educate their family or to get out of a financial crisis.