Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for his latitude. I strongly feel we should have a long debate on this matter and this is why I am so grateful to the Progressive Democrats for tabling the motion.

I have some concerns over independent appeals concerning sub-boards of An Bord Pleanála. I will explain why and my reason is not indicative of a knee-jerk reaction. Great coherence is afforded through having a single national body such as An Bord Pleanála. Under the strategic infrastructure legislation, I effectively created a second board within the board, namely, the strategic infrastructure board, but problems with staffing and resources will arise if we keep dividing the board. One of the great planning challenges we now face is the shortage of well-qualified planners. It will surprise the House to learn that, in the past few months, I have been talking about making further appointments to An Bord Pleanála. However, some of the largest bodies with a role in submitting names in this regard have not done so. We need to be careful in this area.

When the motion was tabled, I took a lot of time to do some analysis. I noted there were 5,500 appeals to the board last year but that only 551 related to one-off rural houses. To establish a series of sub-boards to deal specifically with this issue would not necessarily represent the best use of resources. However, I compliment the Progressive Democrats on allowing for debate on the issue. As usual, I will send a copy of the debate to the chairman of An Bord Pleanála so he will be conscious of the concerns that exist.

On the creation of a national authority for water and sewerage services, we are making incredible progress in this area. I do not say this in any vainglorious way because I happen to be in a very lucky position in which other Ministers responsible for the environment were not. I have resources beyond those available to the others. We have made great strides, particularly in respect of rural water, and this has been recognised by the chairman of the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. Structural issues arise in the water and sewerage programme and bureaucracy and red tape have caused frustration.

The Members who proposed this motion should note I am not convinced that establishing a national water and sewerage authority along the lines of the NRA is the way forward. I have taken steps to de-bureaucratise the whole programme. One will notice that, in the past year, I have adopted a much more liberal approach to sanctioning the smaller schemes, particularly those under the €5 million threshold. I mentioned the streamlined measures previously. The major focus will be on giving the local authorities greater responsibility in terms of procurement and more capacity to move forward, and on providing for a reduction in the number of stage approvals. This will solve the problem.

Our planning system is working well given the strains thereon. It was designed when there were very few development cases but recently there has been great pressure on every planning authority in the country. While I am sometimes critical of these authorities, I believe they have done well in general.

The sustainable rural housing guidelines are a central plank in my personal approach to the planning system. Members of the House will be aware that I have issued a series of guidelines to try to change the planning system. There have been changes in the guidelines, including the retail guidelines, and in a variety of other areas. The way forward is to ensure the guidelines are applied. Intellectually and temperamentally, I am against the creation of additional quangos. I am very conscious of the need to have balanced, fair and more appropriate planning in rural Ireland.

I thank the Senators for their contributions. I apologise if I went a little off script because I believe one should do so from time to time. I will make a copy of this debate available to the chairman of An Bord Pleanála because it is very important. It gives the Senators, who are very closely wed to the councillors throughout the country, an opportunity to outline their views on how the planning system is working. There is nothing wrong with their being closely wed to the councillors. If we all listen to each other rather than preach at each other, we will have a better planning system.