Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. In April 2005 we welcomed the Government's policy on rural housing and the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government outlined the draft proposals on rural housing development.

Are the Minister and the Members of the Oireachtas satisfied that planning authorities are implementing these regulations consistently around the country? Are the planning authorities playing their crucial role in strengthening rural areas, towns and villages? Many counties have a surplus of up to €9 million in planning contributions after the first year of operating the regulations, which raises the question are planning authorities developing their areas to their best advantage?

The national Water Services Investment Programme 2000-2007 is at its mid-point and the Minister has sanctioned many sewerage and water schemes throughout the country but implementation of many of those schemes at local level has fallen behind. If that was brought on stream and those problems addressed, the small towns and villages would have an opportunity for the development they need. If the funding available nationally was used for the major schemes small towns could use the local planning contributions wisely. The Minister should study how those funds can be used, even with matching funds because if they accumulate but are not used for the purpose for which they were collected it would leave much to be desired.

Are planning authorities playing their role in respect of water services? Treatment plants are being used under the planning regulations at a cost of €12,000 to €15,000 a year. Is the body charged with certifying waste water treatment systems a statutory body under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government? Is the Minister of State happy that the certification and testing of the apparatus is consistent with the planning regulations? Many questions are being asked nationally about this problem.

I watch with interest and welcome some of An Bord Pleanála's recent decisions in regard to rural housing. It has the flexibility of considering applications made in the first instance to the local authorities. Some of its decisions have been more favourable to people in rural Ireland than those of the local planning authorities.

Local authority members should realise their own power as planning authorities to make those regulations law. All county development plans were to be reviewed within a 12-month period but the councillors have the power to make it easier for people to apply in rural Ireland. It is hard to expect the Minister to legislate for all but he has given local authorities the power to take into consideration housing needs in their areas.

Housing need is one of the most controversial items in the draft guidelines. It refers to a person's first house in an area to which he or she has returned. One's housing needs change over the course of a lifetime. A person born in a rural area who worked for 20 or 30 years outside the area will find it almost impossible to get planning permission for a house in that area given the way these regulations are being implemented in some areas. The Minister has given the local authorities some flexibility but the implementation of the regulations nationally should be considered soon.

I urge the Minister of State to see whether the programme for development of the sewerage schemes and the infrastructure in the counties is on stream and how they might be helped in that regard.