Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)

I move:

That Seanad Éireann acknowledges the achievements of the Government in:

—supporting the work and development of local authorities;

—providing €2.94 billion in revenue for local authority services and initiatives in 2005;

—promoting the modernisation of local authorities so as to deliver a system that puts local government at the heart of the community, thereby boosting the overall economic, social and cultural development within the community;

supports the Government and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in:

—pressing local authorities to get to construction as quickly as possible the schemes approved in the Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007;

—encouraging local authorities to consider the provision of services on a regional basis;

—and their efforts to strengthen and develop local government structures and services throughout the country.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Roche, to the House and thank him for taking the opportunity to discuss local government issues. It is a topic that is close to my heart and one that has been central to the policies of the Progressive Democrats over the past 20 years.

Our 2004 document restates clearly our commitment to, and ideas for, better local government for our society. As well as our policy implementation and initiatives in Government on national and international issues, the Progressive Democrats are working in local communities in a way that keeps us both accountable to and in touch with the electorate. We have 67 local area representatives and 29 able and committed councillors maintaining that link, which is an important one.

Ireland has enjoyed unprecedented economic development in recent years. The Progressive Democrats in Government have pursued policies aimed at maintaining full employment, strengthening the competitive position of the economy, keeping taxes on labour low and focusing on the low paid, the elderly and the vulnerable.

Twenty years ago, when the Progressive Democrats were formed, unemployment was at 17%. We had both mass unemployment and mass emigration. In the same way these problems damaged local communities, our recent economic prosperity has transformed positively those local communities. The population has grown in every county, employment is up and standards of living have improved. That poses new and different challenges for Government, and local government in particular. There will always be challenges for people who want to see constant improvement for their country. There are challenges to deliver improved infrastructure and services.

Our economic success encourages us to be even more ambitious. The Progressive Democrats believe we can address these challenges by taking small measures at local level as well as big ones at national level. Our ideas, hard work and dedication have shown that we can implement change at national level. The Government has shown itself to be committed to delivering progress in our local communities also, and that is to be welcomed.

In that context, we call on the House in our motion to acknowledge the achievements of the Government in supporting the work and development of local authorities. We must voice our support for the 34,000 or so employees in local authorities who work in our communities to provide housing, planning, roads, water supply and sewage treatment. They develop incentives and controls to protect our rivers, lakes and air and limit noise. They provide recreation facilities and amenities and work locally in agriculture, education, health and welfare.

The Progressive Democrats, with our Fianna Fáil partners in Government, have provided €2.94 billion in revenue for local authority services and initiatives in 2005. Income available to local authorities through the local government fund rose from €797 million in 1999 to €1.29 billion in 2005, an increase of more than 60% in six years. We in the Progressive Democrats work to promote the modernisation of local authorities to deliver a system that puts local government at the heart of our community. That will boost the overall economic, social and cultural development within our local communities.

This development is dependent on what is called "better local government". The Better Local Government programme for change was published in December 1996 and set out a programme for the future development of local authority services. We must have optimum usage of resources, better customer service and increased efficiency in the use of those resources. We support improved financial management in local authorities and new systems to support the achievement of better value for money.

Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure efficiency and value for money in their activities. I understand the Minister and his Department are actively involved on a range of fronts to ensure that objective is achieved and monitored. In particular, I welcome the first report on service indicators in local authorities, published in July last year, which details the performance of local authorities in 2004 in respect of 42 indicators of service.

The Progressive Democrats in Government have also worked in co-operation with local authorities to see full implementation in 2004 of new financial management systems based on accrual accounting principles. These developments, in conjunction with the work of the value for money unit in the Department, the Department of Finance's guidelines in the public sector, and the public procurement procedures, are important and welcome.

As I stated, local authorities are at the heart of service delivery in communities across the country. Local government has a major role in the provision and development of the country's physical infrastructure. A key element of that is water supply and wastewater and sewerage services. That is in the context of the economic development I set out earlier. The demand for water and sewerage services has increased significantly over the past 15 years. That surge in demand is a result of unprecedented growth in the economy.

It is right that the House expresses its support for the Government and the Minister in pressing local authorities to get to construction as quickly as possible the schemes approved in the Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007. Last month, the Minister, Deputy Roche, confirmed, first, that the amount of red tape involved in getting water and sewerage schemes through from design to construction has been reduced. Once councils receive preliminary sanction for a water or sewerage scheme costing up to €5 million, they can now proceed to construction without any further clearance from his Department. Second, he called on local authorities to respond quickly by moving ahead urgently with the hundreds of projects for which funding has been allocated.

The key element of the Minister's statement, from the Progressive Democrats' point of view, was his recognition that local communities are anxiously awaiting those works. Much will be said about resources, value for money, planning, sustainable development etc. These are important factors but at the end of the day, people are waiting for this infrastructure. Local authorities must respond to that need and to the Minister's call.

In December, the Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 set out a comprehensive schedule of new schemes to start over the next two years. The programme is made up of 899 projects with an overall capital value of €5.1 billion.

It makes provision for 59 ongoing major schemes, 193 new schemes to commence construction in 2006, 191 schemes to commence construction in 2007, and 196 schemes to advance through planning with a view to construction as soon as possible.

In addition, grants to local authorities for water mains replacement and rehabilitation have increased from 75% to 90%. The Minister's intention is to encourage increased take-up of the funding available from the Department for such works in order to ensure the continuing quality and reliability of our public water supplies.

The Minister can only announce the schemes and provide increased funds, but it is local authorities, controlled by all parties across this House, which must implement those plans. Consider the situation in my own constituency of Limerick West. Limerick County Council has been dragging its heels on the issue of new sewerage schemes in Adare, Patrickswell and Mungret. The people in these areas have a right to know the reason for the delay in commencing these schemes. Funding of €9 million for those schemes was approved by the Minister in 2004, almost two years ago. Sanction to draw up contract documents was granted in February 2005.

Given that the amount of red tape involved in getting schemes through from design to construction has been reduced, why then are we still being told the council is drawing up contract documents? Why is the local authority no nearer putting the schemes out to tender? All these questions remain while there is, for example, an obsolete scheme in Adare, where virtually raw sewage goes into the river and where development is at a standstill. Meanwhile the local authority tinkers with the idea of upgrading the current treatment plant, rather than pressing full steam ahead with the new scheme, which has been approved. Rather than tinkering with or upgrading treatment plants, such as the one in Adare, new schemes must proceed.

County development plans are in place to set out the overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development in local authority areas. The legal basis for development plans is set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000. In the making and amendment of plans, local authorities are required to carry out widespread public consultation, adhere to strict timeframes and ensure consistency with other plans. This is as it should be. However, in the case of Adare, for example, any upgrade of the current scheme would be totally contrary to the council's county development plan and would breach the council's rules regarding distance from houses. If we are to have confidence as a society that future development will be both properly planned and sustainable, we must at least expect local authorities to adhere to those plans.

In Limerick city, its environs, and across the county it is great to see co-operation by local authorities — working together to provide necessary infrastructure. I welcome the Minister's approval of more than €54 million for Limerick schemes to start in 2006 and more than €34 million for schemes to start 2007. This is an example of the significant funding being made available and should be acknowledged across the House.

Notwithstanding the correct criteria set out in development plans, local authorities must sensibly consider the provision of services and infrastructure on a regional basis, not just in their own area. For example, the National Roads Authority has 11 regional offices, concerned with infrastructure provision at a regional level. Local authorities may need to consider how two or three of them collectively serve the needs for the larger geographic area in terms of waste management for example. I would ask the Minister to consider this aspect in the future.

Returning to water scheme development, other problems arise. In the absence of new sewerage schemes, certain developments cannot go ahead while others, tied into private treatment plants, are progressing. This is not satisfactory. Communities need the full capacity of new water schemes to cater for existing residents and the developments being proposed and planned. All applicants must be treated equally. In my own case, I have spoken at length with the council, but remain unconvinced that the drive and commitment is there to deliver the infrastructure needed in Adare, Patrickswell and Mungret and for the schemes to start this year. It is vitally important that local authorities progress schemes due to start in 2006 and 2007, and that national programmes are commenced and completed without delay. I ask the Minister to ensure this happens.