Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

When we speak about local authority funding, we need to consider the increases in the rates paid by many small businesses. As someone who comes from a small business background, I am aware that the small business sector is not what it used to be. We welcome the increase in competition in the sector. I appeal to local authorities not to see the sector as a easy target by continuing to increase rates. There has been an increase of 6% in rates in my local area. I am worried about insurance, water rates and many other hidden charges. I accept that rates have to be paid, but small businesses will not be able to survive if they continue to increase. Small businesses have been unfairly targeted over the years. I hope there will be a fair reform of the charges structure.

I have a difficulty with the development charges which local authorities are allowed to impose. A charge of over €6,000 is imposed in County Roscommon and charges of up to €12,000 or €14,000 are imposed in some other counties. It seems to me that the moneys which accrue from the charge are used as a slush fund by many local authorities, rather than being spent wisely.

We are not getting value for money from the development charges. The local authority in my home county is trying to ring-fence the moneys from the charge to ensure that the funding which comes from a certain area is returned to that area. It is far too often the case that such funds are spent on new swimming pools or arts centres in county towns, rather than spent more democratically in the areas from which they accrue. Although a development charge of €6,000 was imposed in respect of each of the 500 houses which were built in my home town, the town did not benefit from the funds being spent in the locality. While attempts are being made to bring about change in this regard, more should have been done when development charges were originally introduced to avoid such unfairness.

Much more could be done to bundle some of the many sewerage schemes which are being developed throughout the country. I do not suggest that such an approach would make the process more transparent, but it would make it much quicker. I accept that there is increased demand for sewerage schemes in certain areas because of the construction work taking place there, but I do not think such schemes are being completed fast enough. There seems to be too much red tape and rigmarole, of which we are all guilty. For example, the local Government Deputy or Senator might have to discuss the matter with various interest groups. The process should be much more transparent. If Fine Gael was in power, its representatives would do the same. The nod and wink approach to local sewerage schemes should be brought to an end because it is not right or proper.

I would like to speak about the taking over by local authorities of housing schemes. I was contacted by a developer who built a housing estate some years ago that he might not have finished. I ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to clarify whether he recently announced that local authorities will take over housing schemes which have not been finished after 12 or 14 years. The developer approached me because people living in the housing scheme in question are upset that many walls and sewerage facilities, etc., have not been finished. While the idea I have mentioned is good because it will help to overcome a great deal of hassle, I would like to know whether additional funding will be provided to local authorities. When I approached a local authority in Roscommon to discuss a small housing development, I was told the necessary finance was not available and it was not sure what was happening. If somebody takes action against one in a court of law, one says that one does not know much about it. I ask the Minister to give some further clarification in this regard so that I can sort out an issue in my local area.

Senator Dardis spoke about affordable housing. I am aware that steps are being taken to ensure that more affordable housing is made available, but it does not appear to be very popular in my locality. People are availing of affordable sites and affordable houses are being bought by the local authority under Part V, but there is nothing better for young people than being able to buy affordable housing. They want to own and have pride in something that can be seen as an asset.

We could do much more in respect of affordable housing. People are afraid to get involved in affordable housing schemes. I do not know what we can do to get people more interested because affordable housing is an excellent idea. It seems that people are happier to go directly to developers, even if that involves paying an additional €50,000 or €60,000 for an identical house. I am not sure whether local authorities or the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government are responsible for the low level of take-up of affordable housing schemes.

Senator Dardis rightly stated that the quality and availability of water will be a problem in years to come. Successive Governments have threatened to drain the River Shannon, but to do so to increase the supply of drinking water to the east coast is a novel suggestion. Perhaps Senator Dardis will agree that we could kill two birds with a single stone in this manner.