Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House and Senator Tuffy's Private Members' motion. Her point on engaging with young people on environmental matters such as recycling and waste management is relevant. The Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform, led by Senator O'Rourke, has done excellent work. The Taoiseach has a particular interest in Seanad reform and volunteerism. Last year in Cavan, the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party spent a weekend discussing community and volunteerism with Robert Putnam, who made an excellent contribution. People are concerned about volunteerism. Even in rural areas, it is now claimed that if it were not for community employment schemes, there would be no volunteers, even if it is just for putting up a village's Christmas lights.

I organised one petition as a public representative to get 5,000 signatures to support a community hospital in Tuam, County Galway. Thankfully the then Minister for Health and Children, and then Tánaiste, Deputy Harney, delivered on the hospital. While other politicians organised other petitions, I am the only one in a photograph handing the 5,000 signatures to the Minister.

There is a general concern that many who make decisions are based in Dublin with no adequate consultation and involvement with rural communities. The National Roads Authority decided earlier this year that there would be only one access point on the Gort, County Galway, bypass. A local community organisation, the Gort Regional Association for Community Enterprise, GRACE, compiled projections for houses to be built in the area, figures for school enrolment and the town's industry. It was successful in convincing the roads authority that a second access was needed. It was a great example of a local community getting across its message. It is up to the organisation to persuade Galway County Council and the National Roads Authority western section to provide the funding for the local road network. I thank the Minister for meeting GRACE when he visited Galway.

Other local associations have done excellent work in highlighting their communities' views through research and public meetings. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland should meet with people in the west to discuss industrial development. If that is not done, development will take place only in the larger urban centres.

Many powers have been given away to semi-State bodies. It is frustrating that issues with a board or a semi-State body cannot be raised in the House. For example, I could not find out why it was decided to remove two railway services on the Galway-Dublin line last year. Earlier this year, Bank of Ireland decided to shut its branch in Glenamaddy on 27 October. There are four roads in and out of the town but Bank of Ireland took one. While I accept this cannot be raised in the Seanad, there should be a consultation process with local communities on these matters.

The Tidy Towns competition is a great example of community involvement. Some of the marking reports for towns involved can be hard-hitting but they point out how communities can improve their environments. The Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill is a good example where in urban areas people can get involved. The RAPID and CLÁR programmes offer the same opportunity to rural areas.

A petitions system to initiate legislation and debate is a move in the right direction for community development and involvement. I congratulate Senator Tuffy on tabling this motion. I hope the all-party sub-committee will make progress on Seanad reform.