While I acknowledge the competence of the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob, I regret the Minister for the Environment and Local Government could not be present. I believe he may have tried to side-step me on this important and pertinent issue.
The strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area were published in March 1999 and set out an integrated land use and transportation framework for sustainable development in the greater Dublin area which encompasses Dublin city and county along with counties Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. I will deal with one specific aspect of those guidelines which were incorporated into law as part of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. The people who drew them up and certainly the politicians involved in drawing them up did not see them becoming law at the time.
The guidelines identify both areas for growth and what is called the metropolitan area. With respect to Wicklow, the areas of Bray, Greystones and Delgany are within the metropolitan area. Outside that, Wicklow town is identified as a primary growth centre and Arklow as a secondary one. The guidelines state that growth in these areas would be for the overflow from the Dublin city area, so to speak. For want of a better description – Dubs could live in these areas. Outside these areas, growth would be limited strictly to local growth. The guidelines do not define what this meant.
In Wicklow we drew up development plans for Kilcoole and Newtownmountkennedy. The amount of land zoned exceeded what was interpreted as being required for local growth. The Minister intervened and requested that the plans be changed to allow for downsizing of the population estimate given that it would deal only with local growth.
In recent months Wicklow County Council, following the advice of the manager, has introduced a variation to the county development plan based on an interpretation by management of the strategic planning guidelines which, in essence, means that people outside Wicklow cannot buy a new house outside Bray, Greystones, Delgany, Wicklow or Arklow. This decision was made on the basis of a literal interpretation of the strategic planning guidelines. I have sought to establish from the Minister if this is a correct interpretation. To the best of my knowledge neither Dublin city nor county nor Meath nor Kildare have followed suit.
I have serious concerns about this interpreta tion because one of the main reasons for it is that it would make houses cheaper for locals. More than 60% of the population of County Wicklow lives in Bray, Greystones, Delgany, Arklow and Wicklow. These are the only places in County Wicklow in which people from outside it will be allowed to live. This means competition for housing in these areas will be greater and house prices will increase while, in the remainder of the county, houses will not be built because developers will move to neighbouring counties where there will be no restriction on the people who can purchase houses. It has been a condition of the granting of some planning permissions in Wicklow that the local authority more or less vets the applicants.
Apart from the fact that I would have a difficulty with the principle, given that there is enough division in society without creating more man-made ones, it will give rise to stagnation in many towns and villages in County Wicklow. The interpretation of Wicklow County Council is either right or wrong. If it is wrong, the Minister should let the council know and, if it is correct, he should ensure Dublin, Meath and Kildare follow suit. I tabled a parliamentary question on this today and the Minister said in reply that the development plans for Meath and Wicklow have since been adopted. My understanding is that Meath has not followed suit. Permission has been granted for houses in Trim which anyone can purchase.
This is an anti-social, divisive and unworkable measure. I seek some guidance from the Minister rather than efforts to side-step the issue. I have tabled questions on this, the responses to which have been unclear. I have also written to the Minister and have not received a clear response. I do not know if the Minister, Deputy Jacob, can help me, but it is a matter I will pursue until I obtain a correct answer.