Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister. I am glad of the opportunity to discuss housing matters. The Minister has clearly set out the approach that the Government and he have taken on housing. I agree with what he said regarding any influence that we, as Oireachtas Members, can have on local authorities. When the dual mandate was abolished, we had the opportunity to have meetings at least annually with our county managers and directors of services on local authority matters. I always use the opportunity, when attending such meetings, to raise the issue of affordable and social housing. I have also spoken to our councillors on how we can speed up and promote affordable housing in various counties. I have always made it my business to discuss that matter.

I take the Minister's point that the affordable homes partnership is obviously delivering very well in the greater Dublin area. I would like to see that expanded to every county. I do not believe that we have the one-to-one advice and consultancy of which the Minister has spoken in every county. Social and affordable housing is a matter of some controversy in County Galway, since there were rumours, when the Taoiseach launched the affordable housing initiative, that nearly every parcel of land would be built on. I refer in particular to lands owned by the former Western Health Board, now the western district of the Health Service Executive, which we debated in the House last week.

The rumours are that lands we thought had been earmarked for health services and a health campus are now to be subject to housing development. It is unfortunate that such rumours are circulating. It has led to a public meeting being called for next Monday in Tuam. I received assurances on an Adjournment Debate from the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Noel Ahern, that the situation is not so. Such assurances were also provided in the Dáil by the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power. When people ask what surplus land one has, they should also be told its intended use. I make no apologies for saying that the six acres of land in Tuam have always been designated for a health campus, including a hospital, an ambulance base, a child care unit and psychiatric services. That is how the question should have been answered. I very much regret that it was not answered in that way.

What has happened regarding affordable housing is very good. We have now got some movement in Athenry, County Galway, and I would like to put on record what I was told on the Adjournment last week. The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Noel Ahern, stated that 22 hectares — a great deal of land — had been released by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, in Athenry, and that the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has engaged with Galway County Council to advance the project. The Minister has informed me that the council proposes to develop an initial phase of perhaps 60 affordable housing units on approximately two hectares of the site.

Preparatory work, including planning consultations, design and surveys, has been carried out on that portion of the site. An application for Part 8 approval under the planning regulations was advertised last week. That portion of the site will now go through the normal planning process. The balance of the Athenry lands, approximately 20 hectares, is the subject of a local area plan that is on public display until the first week of December. I understand that the council will be discussing the outcome of the public consultation process at its December meeting. The use of that portion of the site for the initiative will be assessed in the light of the local area plan process. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will work with the council to ensure the most effective use of the site.

I am happy that this is on record in respect of affordable and social housing in Athenry. There has been much development in Athenry. A major roadway will bypass the down, part of the new road from Galway to Ballinasloe and Dublin. I am grateful that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, will be coming to Galway next Friday to officially open the Loughrea town bypass, something for which I have been pressing for a long time. The land in Athenry has now been designated for housing, and it is very important to state that.

I have a query for the Minister regarding affordable and social housing and what he spoke about in respect of Part 5, which is a very good idea. There have been some queries regarding, for example, a contractor building 80 houses in Oranmore, with another 20 proposed in Headford. There is a good distance between the two towns and people have said to me that they are a community and that, with the council zoning land in Headford, there is no reason for them not to carry out their own projects. People feel their town will be the dumping ground, as they call it, for social or affordable housing, which amounts to 20% of the overall development. They feel another town will be subject to a similar project and that the social or affordable housing will again be built in Headford, where there is extra land available. The process has not been explained to communities or councillors. We should get local authorities to explain clearly to people what is envisaged in respect of Part V and the 20% of housing that is to comprise social or affordable housing.

I am glad the Minister referred to progress in the housing sector. He referred to the completion last year of 77,000 units, which is double the completion level in 1997. This is a great achievement. Senator Bannon will accept that where people are trying to get on the property ladder, particular importance should be attached to affordable housing. The Minister stated this in this speech.

The Minister also referred to the central heating programme, which has been a great success in respect of local authority housing. We should never lose sight of the fact that house improvements are very important in local authority housing, particularly for the elderly, regarding whom very good schemes such as the essential repairs scheme and housing aid for the elderly scheme operate. We should continue to provide funding for these schemes because many people apply to their local authority or health board for the grants.

The disabled person's housing grant is of great benefit. Very good work has been carried out in this regard and we need to continue funding the scheme through which the grant is made available because it is the only scheme for carrying out improvements for people with a disability. I would like to see the Minister promote the scheme. I am glad he mentioned central heating because when local authorities refer to the thousands of extra houses that have been built, there is a danger of forgetting the existing stock, which should be refurbished and improved when necessary.

When considering the five-year plan the Minister is promoting, we must also consider transport issues. There are serious difficulties involved in getting in and out of Galway city. One of the city's real problems is its design, although some will say it was not designed at all. We must consider constructing bus corridors to allow people get into the city if they are to live in Claregalway, which is between Tuam and the city, or if they are to live north or east of the city. This is a major issue and must be addressed.

The Minister referred to water schemes. We have spent a lot of money on the public schemes and the group water scheme may present difficulties. There is now a welcome move to metering to tackle water leakage. Emphasis is now placed on bundling water schemes, as happens in the jurisdiction of Galway County Council. Much progress has been made in this regard. When one talks about housing schemes, one must also talk about planning and water and sewerage schemes. While progress has been made regarding water schemes, I am very disappointed the small villages and towns have not benefited from their fair share of investment in sewerage schemes. A lot of money is expended on the cities, which have huge populations. For example, there is a huge scheme for Mutton Island, which scheme serves Oranmore as well as Galway city, and water schemes on the Corrib serve areas that extend almost to the city. However, for approximately €1.5 million to €2 million, small villages could have housing and the necessary sewerage systems constructed, yet such schemes seem to be put on the back burner. Perhaps design, build and operate arrangements might represent a way to carry out improvements in this regard.

On announcing the Estimates, the Minister referred to extra money being allocated to An Bord Pleanála and the Environmental Protection Agency. We welcome this very much. On the question of councils and planning, preplanning meetings are very important. An increasing number of these have been held, certainly in my county, and I welcome this. We had a system of prior notice for public representatives, which I regret has now been abolished by Galway County Council. This is the case even for councillors. It was very useful for an Oireachtas Member who could only be in the council offices one day per week. At our annual meeting, I said to the manager that the prior notice system should be in operation. Consideration should also be given to the question of having inurement clauses attached to planning permissions. Some councillors tell me there are life-long inurement clauses, which I find hard to believe, or ten-year inurement clauses. Those involved in preparing county development plans should consider whether a ten-year inurement clause is appropriate. We all know people must move house for various reasons, usually to obtain employment, and therefore the ten-year inurement clause is not proper. I do not believe it is constitutional. People from County Galway may have a particular reason for stating they want these clauses included.

I very much welcome the rental accommodation scheme. From what I read and hear, rents have fallen, particularly for students in Galway, who had serious problems trying to obtain accommodation some years ago. I am sure the same is true for students in other cities. I hope the schemes to which the Minister referred will ensure the resources are made available in a good way and that we will have better-quality housing for all the households involved. I thank the Minister for what he has said and wish him well in his ministry.