(Dún Laoghaire): This is the first occasion I have had an opportunity of addressing the House and I feel very honoured and privileged to do so. The importance of local government is evident to anybody in public life because it affects all citizens within the State. It is therefore essential that local government as a system should continue and should be expanded to make it more local and more meaningful for our people. For that reason I welcome the additional funds being given to the Department in this Supplementary Estimate. I listened to Deputy Moore's contribution about the Government's housing programme and I noticed that he conveniently forgot that there would not be any need for this Supplementary Estimate for the Department of the Environment if it had been funded properly in the 1981 Estimate. It is unfair of him to criticise the Government's housing programme when one considers that the Government have only been four months in office. It is obvious that for housing alone we were left £16½ million short. Those of us who have entered political life throught local government realise that it is essential, irrespective of the Government that is in power, that adequate funds are provided so that the local authority can carry out its proper function. Local government affects everybody.
I welcome the increase in the number of residents' and community associations that have sprung up in recent years because when one is dealing with such groups one brings local government to the people and makes it more meaningful. There is a great deal of saving on the public purse to be achieved by urging residents' associations and community associations to become more involved in their communities and environment. We all realise that this is done on a voluntary basis. It is the responsibility of each local authority to pay heed to these associations and indeed encourage them. There are many areas in which residents' associations can assist, not least of which is the encouragement of the community at large to respect their environment. Not alone should they act as watchdogs with regard to planning matters, road proposals and so on that may effect them but they have an even wider role to play in Irish life generally.
Since this debate commenced we have heard a lot about housing policy. I agree with what Deputy Moore said, that the housing policy of any government or any party is essential to the formation of any future society. I entered public life through the local government system. I am a member of Dublin County Council and am aware of the problems facing them in the housing area at present. It is essential to recognise that housing is a basic right of any individual and that the family unit — long a feature of Irish life — depends for its very existence on proper housing facilities. While a great deal has been and is being done under the local government housing programme — whether by Dublin Corporation, Dublin County Council, or Dún Laoghaire Borough — it is time we ascertained where we are going. There will always be people in our society who, through no fault of their own, will be in need of housing by a local authority. But it is essential — and this Government recognise this fact — that we encourage those who are capable of providing homes for themselves to do so. In the Dublin area in recent years, because of the escalation in house prices, occasioned mainly by increased land values, it has become practically impossible for a young couple to raise the necessary deposit with which to but their own home. This means that more and more people who heretofore would not have put their names on local authority housing lists have no option but to do so.
I welcome the Government's proposal to create the Housing Finance Agency which I have no doubt will prove of enormous help to the thousands of young couples on the waiting lists of various local authorities, and indeed to those who will be getting married in the future. If we can evolve a system which will encourage young people, at an early stage of their relationship, to save through one of the lending agencies, with the Government assisting them later in raising a deposit, we will be eliminating a number of people at present seeking accommodation from local authorities and in that way, building a better society.
If I might give the House one example of this, an example which could be given by any of us here who hold clinics regularly. There is the option open to anybody to get married, find rented accommodation, but because of the points scheme operated by local authorities, most young people will take the worst accommodation they can get because the better will be their chance of being rehoused. Therefore the trend is to get married, take bad rented accommodation, a child comes along and they are all then living in bad conditions, which is bound to have an effect on the marriage and endanger the health of that child. After some considerable period of time on the waiting list the local authority may provide them with a home. Would not it be far better if we could say to any such young couple; you save a certain percentage and the State will assist you in accumulating a deposit so that you can get your own home straightaway. In my opinion the effects of that on society would be tremendous, it would assist marriages and also the health of those children who become part of the family unit.
It is essential that we get our housing programme right, that we spend money on local authority housing for those who genuninely need it, who have no option, and continue to encourage those who can afford to save and but their own homes to do so. If the State must give them some encouragement then I am all in favour of it. Certainly the proposed Housing Finance Agency should help to a greater degree in that area.
I welcome also the announcement by the Government to examine the possibility of controlling land prices. There is no doubt but they have had a drastic effect on house prices in recent years. It is only reasonable that people get a fair price for their land, but the exorbitant prices paid in recent years have gone out of all proportion. Any action that can be taken by the Government in that area will be of tremendous advantage to us all and particularly those who will be in need of housing in the future.
To revert to other aspects of the operations of the Department, the road tax now reintroduced should solve the problems we have been encountering on our roads, certainly those in the greater Dublin area. None of us like having to impose taxes but I think the public at large would be prepared to pay a reasonable amount for the provision of a proper road network. I sincerely hope that the money collected from this road tax will be spent solely on the construction and maintenance of our roads because if we do not have a proper road network, ultimately the cost to the State will be very high. There will be additional charges to be imposed on industry, delays in deliveries, in the receipt of goods, waste of fuel, damage to health, to mention but a few. I am sure the Government will provide adequate funds to local authorities for the construction of a proper road network, which will ultimately be of great saving to the Exchequer. In this regard the Excequer is being asked to pay too much continously. There is no reason private enterprise cannot be involved in road construction. I am sure private enterprise would be only too willing to become involved in the provision of a proper roads network. This idea has worked well in other countries, as all of us who have travelled abroad will know. We have seen toll roads. If roads are provided more speedily through private funds I cannot foresee any objection. I am sure the public at large would be agreeable to the payment of a small toll if roads were provided more speedily. Therefore we should investigate the possibility of encouraging the private sector to become more involved in the provision of funds for our roads network.
We are providing a further £3 million here for sanitary a services. In Dublin country there is massive development at the moment and one of the reasons for prices being so high is because of a lack of serviced land. The money for services is provided from the Exchequer. I do not think that is the only way in which to provide the money. Private enterprise should be encouraged. The more serviced land available the cheaper it will be, because it is a question ultimately of supply and demand. Serviced land is needed for housing and industry and, if it is scarce, whatever is available will become more and more valuable. More serviced land in Dublin country is required to meet housing demands and the demand for jobs. Private enterprise should be encouraged to become involved. If we can have toll bridges there is no reason why we should not have tool services. These things should be provided speedily and we should not always have to wait for the public purse to provide the necessary funds.
With regard to planning there is a sum provided here for An Bord Pleanála. In my opinion planning is about people and local authorities should have a responsibility at all times to remember that they are dealing with people. What may appear to be an attractive scheme on a map may not necessarily result in a proper environment in which to ask people to live. An Bord Pleanála should be respect the wishes of local authorities and not grant permissions which involve a change in Zoning. Planning must be done in a properly organised way and I do not think An Bord Plannála should be involved in changes. Technical matters should, of course, be dealt with on appeal but the public should have an opportunity to become involved. The development plan gives the opportunity to the public of examining the proposals of the local authority, making suggestions for change, lobbying the public representatives and so on. If, however, an independent body not answerable to the public has the power to change zones that is detrimental to the whole planning process. It is, indeed, undemocratic.
I know the Minister is looking at the planning laws. If a planning authority has to face having to pay compensation as a result of certain decisions that is not in the best interest of the public, and I sincerely hope the law will be changed to enable local authorities to refuse planning permissions on valid grounds and not find themselves faced with compensation claims which must be met out of the public purse. If a planning authority feels some development is premature or undesirable it should be entitled to refuse permission for that development without any fear of being faced with a subsequent massive compensation claim. At the moment local authorities are faced with having to give permissions or else meet massive compensation claims. That is not right and the law should be changed. I hope that during this Government's life these loopholes will be closed and we will get down to proper planning and proper protection of the environment.
As I said earlier, local government affects everybody. We should ensure that what we do today will be something of which people can be proud in the future producing an environment in which they can live in peace and security. I doubt if the direction we are taking is the right one. The public should have a say in development. It is quite easy to provide long rows of houses with a community centre and a shopping centre and perhaps other facilities without advertence to the dangers that may ultimately arise from speeding traffic putting the lives of children in jeopardy. Such areas can, in fact, be completely lacking in a community spirit.
It is noteworthy that areas like Malahide, Dalkey, Dún Laoghaire, and Dundrum are becoming more and more attractive. The reasons why they are attractive is because of the community spirit that exists. That is the reason why housing is always increasing in these areas. People want to be part of a community. As a member of a local authority I shall always insist on our remembering in the planning process that we are planning for people and what may appear to be suitable may not necessarily be what people want. This is a point that should be remembered, too, from the point of view of appeals.
As Deputy Seán Moore said, malicious injury claims have to be paid out of the public purse. Those who scrawl graffiti on our walls or damage property should be compelled to make good the damage done. I notice pop groups are now disfiguring our walls with advertisements. Those who behave like this should be compelled to remove these graffiti. Such an abuse of public property is unacceptable. Steps should be taken to make those who carry out malicious injuries do something to make good the damage they have caused.
Deputy Moore hinted that the Government intended to reintroduce rates. That is very unfair because it creates doubt in people's minds. It has been stated clearly and often by the Minister concerned that this Government do not intend to reintroduce domestic rates. We all recognise that the rates were a very unfair system of taxation because they did not take into account one's ability to pay. Any tax that does not take that into account is unfair, and it is right that rates were removed. I would like to remind the Deputy that the process of removing the domestic rates was begun by the Coalition Government in 1974. While a subsequent administration may have removed them the process was begun by the Coalition Government.
Local authorities should be given power to raise some finance of their own. That need not necessarily be by way of tax. It is quite common in the United Kingdom for local authorities to run their own lotteries and they have made a considerable amount of money as a result of this. If local authorities here were given that power, the moneys collected could be used to provide further amenities for the county involved. We have been very fortunate in Dublin that some years ago we began a parks programme, the benefit of which is now to be seen throughout County Dublin. I do not see why local authorities should not be able to raise their own funds through a lottery system and the money raised could be spent on the provision of amenities in the county in which they were collected. It would also give the local authority an opportunity of raising funds without having to depend on the Exchequer. We all realise that there is only a certain amount of money available, bearing in mind the demands on the Exchequer, for local government but, because of the growing demand on local government, it is impossible to keep pace with these demands. Therefore we should look at other ways of raising finance. The lottery system would be optional and would be of tremendous benefit. I hope that local authorities will be given the power to raise their own funds through this system.
I would also like to mention the funds made available for special environmental grants. Recently Dublin County Council, with a relatively small sum of money, £160,000, were able to create 45 jobs. There is room in the local government system to give employment of a productive nature. Local authorities can carry out works which will, ultimately, be of overall benefit if they are given the finances to do so. I have met a number of unemployed people who would be delighted to work for a local authority if they were given an opportunity to do so, even on a temporary basis. We should examine the possibility of transferring funds from the Department of Social Welfare to the Department of the Environment, provided the local authorities could show that the person was being employed by them. I do not accept, as has been suggested, that there are large numbers of unemployed people who do not want to work. Of course there are people in every society who will try to abuse the system and who are not too particular about working, but the vast majority of unemployed people would be pleased to be given an opportunity of working. If we can do it through the local government system, even on a temporary basis, it would be of tremendous benefit to the State and local authorities. There are numerous areas where this could be done, in provision of amenities, road maintenance and sanitary services. It would only involve a transfer of funds from one department to the other.
I am sure this suggestion has been looked at before but I ask the Minister to look at it again. It would not involve any additional expenditure. Dublin County Council managed to provide 45 jobs for a sum of £160,000 and, at the same time, carried out works which are going to be of tremendous benefit to the residents of County Dublin. If that can be multiplied it is easy to see the number of jobs which could be made available in this area.
It has been a privilege for me to address this House, and I hope the points I made will be of some benefit.