Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Owing to the importance for people of having a home, housing has always been a central issue for debate. I sat on a local authority for 18 years during what could be called the bad old days. New housing schemes were one of the biggest news stories for communities and there were always long waiting lists for houses. The situation has since improved and housing stock has undoubtedly been elevated to new heights. It is now within everyone's ambition and range to have a place in which to live with dignity and to feel a sense of ownership.

However, while huge progress has been made in terms of providing public and private housing, the rate of progress has given rise to fresh challenges. We have to keep up with these challenges while being fair to those who possess their houses. Rent is an important issue in that respect because people need to be able to pay the required fee. However, in most cases, issues are considered as they arise. In my experience, genuine concerns are addressed and people are no longer put to the pin of their collars or made destitute because of their commitments.

Other issues arise with regard to managing new private and public housing developments. I am aware of several cases, in my area of County Tipperary and elsewhere, where unrest has built up within communities because of anti-social behaviour or for other reasons. Such issues are just as important as the provision of housing at the correct level of rent and it is important we recognise them. In some of the cases of which I heard, people were almost on the point of leaving the area for a number of reasons, including the discontent and unrest among law-abiding people and those who respected the community and wanted to make a contribution to it. An address should not take on some type of stigma, as has happened in parts of the country. There is nothing worse than to have an address which, in some way, automatically dilutes one's curriculum vitae, whether one is going for a job or otherwise or even from a social point of view. It is an issue we will have to look at seriously. Local authorities can step in because they have by-laws and guidelines and they can take action but, unfortunately, it is not happening and this issue is becoming widespread.

Those of us who watch television will have seen the harrowing stories coming from a particular place in County Limerick. It is mind-boggling to think that 99% of the community, who are law-abiding citizens and are trying to give the very best to their children, find their area in the headlines on television, radio and in the newspapers because of a tiny minority. There must be a way to ensure sanctions are quickly taken against people who cause that type of havoc.

I refer to the appearance of housing areas. I saw a programme on television about a pilot scheme being operated not far from Dublin where a little community group was put together. Perhaps there is some way to encourage this type of activity through the provision of some resources. A small community group could come together, buy a lawn-mower and ensure an area is kept tidy. I see no reason that could not apply to the local authority housing scheme as it does to the private one because most people do not always have their hands out and do not always want the public sector to do things for them. Perhaps there is a way to ensure people take a degree of ownership for the appearance of their areas.

The upkeep of the inside of a house and its repair are important but so too is the environment in which it is located. One might even go as far as saying that if the environment is pleasant, no rubbish is lying around, the grass is cut and so on, it often motivates and inspires young people. Once a housing scheme becomes in any way dilapidated, it has an impact on morale and ambition. It is not enough for me to state that in the House. There should be some way for local authorities, at the prompting of the Minister of State, to make some resources available where such groups come together. I am not talking about groups coming together to legislate for their community but rather about the case I mentioned where a group came together to work for the community. It also results in interaction among people who do not remain locked in their houses when they return from work.

I wish to touch on another an issue which is perhaps outside the remit of the debate. During the days I spent on the local authority a number of schemes were brought forward whereby one could purchase one's house through the payment of rent. I always thought that was one of the best things to happen because people realised the money they were paying on rent was not dead money and that they were investing in the purchase of their house. It did not matter whether it took them 20 or 30 years. From the day they came into that scheme, their attitude automatically changed. It should be our aim to ensure new schemes are brought forward whereby people in local authority housing could purchase their houses through the rent system. I am not pointing the finger at anyone but if one believes one is buying back one's house, one will be twice as careful about the house in terms of maintenance and presentation.

We still have problems providing houses in rural areas. We had an exceptionally good debate and great consultation on this issue. Good documents were produced and very good guidelines were brought forward for the implementation and, to some extent, the relaxation of the restrictions being placed on people who want to build their houses in rural areas. There is not a county which still does not have a problem. I do not believe the problem lies within the guidelines or in any legislation. There is still a blockage which can be termed "elitist" and it must be confronted. There are people who could get a site from their family or their extended family on which to build a house in a rural area, yet the restrictions are very severe. There is a suggestion they could move to the nearest village or town but they cannot do so because they could not afford a house there. What will happen eventually is that they will go on the housing list.

We keep talking about the regeneration of rural Ireland. Surely the only way we can meaningfully do this is to listen to people who have confidence in rural Ireland and wish to return to it instead of emigrate or leave it. We should help them in every way we can. Will the Minister of State convey a message to his counterpart on this issue, that is, to get tough with the planners on these issues? The guidelines must be interpreted in favour of the applicant and not some people who lay down rules and who want to make a picnic area out of rural Ireland.