Seanad debates

Thursday, 15 July 2021

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages

 

9:30 am

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will try not to take too long because I know many Senators wish to contribute on this really important and significant Bill. Looking at the purpose of the Bill, we have to realise what we are about here. For example, one of the stated purposes of the Bill is "to enable urgent measures to be taken to increase the supply of housing in the State and in particular affordable and social housing". I hear every Senator remarking on that need almost every day. The Bill aims "to ensure that public land which is not being utilised or is under-utilised is made available for housing in the State". I could go on and on. Housing is the biggest crisis in the State at the moment, along with Covid.

I respect the right of every Member to give his or her opinion. That is very important. However, while I take on board the comments regarding section 183, of all the Ministers with whom the House has dealt through the years, the one thing the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, does not wish to do is to in any way dilute the role of local authority members. I know from our action through the councils that we have weekly and fortnightly engagements. In future, local authority members will have a greater role because of the recognition by the Minister of the important role they play. Reference has been made to "in certain circumstances". I know that concerns some councillors and I respect that. I am sure the Minister is good at listening and will be able to answer for himself. He is very keen to acknowledge the role of local authority members. He is very strong in that regard.

I refer to the Ballinasloe area of County Galway. Senator Dolan will support me in this regard and will probably speak on it. Ballinasloe is the second largest town in County Galway. In 2016, its population was approximately 6,500 or 7,000. The target growth in the new county development plan from 2022 onwards is for an extra 2,000 people, bringing the population to 8,500, which will still be fewer than 10,000. Ballinasloe has a history of very environmentally damaging developments.I spoke to Councillor Evelyn Parsons about the issue. She is a native of Ballinasloe and represents the people there. The councillors wish to highlight the history of Ballinasloe in relation to the dump and the High Court ruling on the issue. The High Court ruled in 1999 that the dump had to be closed. I think it was closed in 2005. There were compensation issues. It was a huge issue. It did a lot of damage to the Ballinasloe area. In recent times, and Senator Dolan will probably want to say more about it, there have been two attempts to put a transfer station there on a 70-acre site. It is a vast area. I can see why councillors there would like to retain their right to have some say in that situation.

All I ask today is that the Minister takes that on board. I know he has already consulted with me on the issue and there will be further consultation. However, it is a specific case. It is that type of case that we need to be careful of. Certainly, in respect of Ballinasloe, it is a critical issue. Despite the fact that the court judgment said that there was to be no type of transfer station there, two applications have been made to Galway County Council to put a transfer site right in that area, one of which was turned down. That is not acceptable. I ask the Minister to take that on board. I would appreciate it.

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