James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, we had a visit from the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Community and Local Government, Deputy English, and a surprise visit from the Minister for Housing, Community and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to Fingal to look at a particular type of pre-made construction. These are very fine steel structure houses where most of the work is done in factories, under cover. These houses are currently retailing at €450,000. I am not suggesting that is the sort of house that ultimately would be used, but it shows the quality that is available.

The issue I wish to raise today is housing and planning not just in Fingal, but country wide. We currently have no proper register of planners in this country. Anyone can call himself or herself a planner - I could do it. We need a register, and the Institute of Planners in Ireland, IPI, want it. They want the situation which pertains to other professions put in place whereby people must have a minimum level of qualification to be able to provide the services they say they can provide, a proper code of conduct, and, most importantly, a code of ethics. We have seen far too much development in this country. I am not here to score political points but to address an issue. Estates have been built all over the country in places where nobody wants to live. Proper planning would not allow that and we need a proper register for IPI. We need to be able to assure people that if they go to someone describing himself or herself as a planner, they will be dealing with somebody who is properly qualified and has the skill to deliver proper planning to that person or that company which will result in quality outcomes for those who live and work in the area where that planning will apply.

I would like the Minister to come to the House and to tell us how he can progress this issue, because it is critical. I do not need to talk through all of the problems we have suffered in the past because of bad planning. We have an opportunity now, particularly when we are looking at building so many houses. I mention Fingal because it is an area that is growing, has the youngest population in the country, and will be the site of many new houses, offices and new industry. Let us take the opportunity to put a proper register of planners in place so that we can all feel protected and get the service we require.