John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House and the opportunity to discuss this important issue. As somebody who represents a largely rural area in County Kilkenny I am familiar, as are all the previous speakers, with the difficulties experienced by people in obtaining planning permission in rural areas throughout the country. I have to admit, however, that I am not convinced that the guidelines as published by the Minister, Deputy Cullen, will do anything to seriously improve the situation. I regret that because there is much room for improvement in that regard.

As soon as the guidelines were published I contacted the planning section in my own local authority in Kilkenny, Kilkenny County Council, to discuss the implications of the guidelines in terms of its development plan and rural housing policy and I was told in no uncertain terms by the staff of the planning authority that the guidelines as published by the Minister would have no effect whatsoever because the wording in the guidelines is already largely contained in the county development plan in Kilkenny. It is fair to say that particular wording is contained in many of the development plans already in existence throughout the length and breadth of thecountry.

My response to the guidelines from the Minister is in light of the fact that much of what is contained therein is already contained within development plans throughout the country. If problems are being experienced in getting planning permission in rural areas of Kilkenny under the current development plan, those problems will not be resolved by the publication of these guidelines. That is regrettable.

I agree with what most of the previous speakers said about the planning guidelines. SenatorMoylan in particular was correct when he spoke about the effect the difficulties in getting planning permission is having on rural communities throughout the country. He spoke about the difficulties for rural schools and villages in terms of facilities like post offices, Garda stations, sports clubs, etc. which are having difficulty in continuing in operation. He is correct in that regard and unless some action is taken, the decline in numbers in these rural areas will continue. I do not believe these particular guidelines will have any positive impact, other than in specific areas where population is declining.

In the past few years more obstacles have been put in people's way when it comes to development in rural areas. I speak particularly about the recent large increases that have taken place in development levies. In my own county of Kilkenny and in various parts of the country there have been significant increases in the development levies which will, in effect, provide an extra stumbling block for people who want to build a house in their own rural area. It is rather unfortunate that these development charges have been hiked up across the country because this is another negative impact on the future development of rural Ireland. I genuinely believe, from the small amount of activity on the ground, that those people who support and have supported the large increases in development levies will get a firm clip around the ear when it comes to the local elections in June. I await that development.

From speaking to a number of planning officials and councillors I understand that in certain situations the new guidelines published by the Minister may further hinder development in rural areas. I am talking specifically about the removal of hedgerows to get suitable sight lines for access to sites in rural areas. I am told that under the wording of the guidelines as published by the Minister this may make the current position even more difficult. That is not something that could be welcomed in any way.

The major problem I encounter on a daily basis with the planning process is not necessarily that it is difficult to get planning permission in a rural area but the major inconsistencies that exist from county to county and even within counties with regard to planning and development. Throughout the country we see large, obtrusive developments getting permission yet we are all familiar with people in our own areas, with genuine need, who apply for permission to build modest dwellings but who find it difficult or impossible to get that permission. The major problem for planning in rural areas is inconsistency, and I hope these guidelines will bring a new level of consistency to planning decisions throughout the country. We will have to wait and see if that happens.

Most people who speak on this issue say that if people have a genuine connection with a rural area they should be accommodated but that the curtain should be drawn at that point. I do not agree with that. There is something positive to be said about new people coming into areas. It is important in any area, whether urban or rural, that there would be an influx of new people from time to time. The Cathaoirleach will know, through his involvement with sportingorganisations, the importance of getting new people into areas. We might have a few Limerick hurlers on the Kilkenny team if we were to get some new families from Limerick into County Kilkenny.