Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State is very welcome back to the Seanad. The housing crisis we face is not news to him or to any of us here in the Chamber. I compliment him on the work and efforts he has commenced since taking over his brief. His knowledge is impeccable. He has experience of being his party spokesperson for housing in the previous Seanad and he also worked on the issue while in local government. I wish him the best. I look forward to supporting his efforts in his role in this Ministry.

The housing crisis is very complex and I welcome the efforts the Minister of State is beginning to make in regard to more flexibility and less red tape and regulation to empower people to have choice. A person with space in their back garden, for example, has more liberty and autonomy to improve living conditions for themselves and their family, based on their circumstance. That flexibility is very welcome.

What would also be very welcome is more devolved power and decision-making for local authorities. Like the Minister of State, I have come through the local council and I believe local authorities have a role to play. It is not just a case of making one or two decisions; it is a very complex situation and each theme needs diligent efforts.

Irish Water is a topic that comes up regularly. The chief executive, Niall Gleeson, identified recently during a speech to mark the opening of the Arklow wastewater treatment plant, which is heralded as an excellent facility that is best-in-class investment, that the greater Dublin drainage project was proposed at the same time as the Arklow wastewater treatment plant. If they had both progressed at the same speed, the greater Dublin drainage project would have cost €600 million, but it is now expected to cost the State approximately €1.2 billion.

The proposal that I bring forward this afternoon relates to improved expedience through the Part 8 process for local authorities to progress critical infrastructure for Uisce Éireann. It is for the common good and is in the interest of every local authority representative in the country because it benefits communities by improving water quality, wastewater supply and infrastructure. Critically, that would also unlock housing, which is in such challenging circumstances and is limiting the prosperity of the State to such an extent. Will the Minister of State consider devolving more autonomy to local authorities through the Part 8 process?This would mean that there would not be a mechanism for An Bord Pleanála to intervene, as the Minister knows, but it would also provide for public consultation. This would be a good means of improving and unlocking critical infrastructure that is within the common good. It would help to expedite the development of critical infrastructure that can unlock additional housing supply and ambition. I welcome the Minister of State's efforts regarding the planning exemption for the modular units. We need to support such a common-sense proposal in a collective manner. Local councillors should have stronger levers for residential developments. I welcome the Minister of State’s consideration of this important topic.