Lorraine Higgins (Labour)

I wish to bring to the attention of the Seanad a matter I raised in the 2009 local elections when I ran as a candidate. On that basis I seek that the Minister of State with responsibility for housing and planning would come to the House to debate the legislation on developers' contributions. Changes must be made to the rules and laws governing same, as right throughout the Celtic tiger era estates were popping up at almost the speed of light yet residents now find themselves without basic public services such as footpaths within their vicinity. In particular I refer to the example of my home town of Athenry, County Galway. I am aware that the trend is replicated right across the country. In Athenry in particular we have a situation in the townland of Ballydavid where there are no less than nine estates which have no continuous pedestrian access to the town. To exacerbate the problem there is a dangerous railway bridge located on a bend where pedestrians have to play cat and mouse with their lives against the traffic. The lack of basic services is not just limited to the Ballydavid area. In Raheen we also have a large number of recreational amenities in the area and yet no footpath leading all the way to them.