I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time.
The purpose of the Supplementary Estimate, to be moved in connection with this Bill, is to enable grants to be made by my Department towards the cost of works on derelict sites, which will help to improve the appearance and amenities of towns, villages and countryside. Despite the efforts which have been made, especially in recent years, too many of our towns and villages present an image of drabness, which is bad for ourselves and for our vital tourist industry. With the increasing mobility of our own people and of tourists, the eyesores presented by derelict sites are observed by more and more people every year and have been the subject of serious criticism by visitors. It is particularly important that our tourist resorts should raise their standards. I know that there are difficulties and that much effort is required to reach the standard achieved by, say, Glenties. The initiative of individuals and local development associations can be of great practical value in supplementing the efforts of local authorities and I would like to think that we may look forward to the growth of much fruitful co-operation in the interests of better community environment.
The grants scheme together with the Derelict Sites Bill, 1960, deals with one aspect of the subject of amenity. I have been reviewing the general question of amenity and the powers of local authorities under the Town and Regional Planning Acts to secure the preservation and development of amenities. These powers can be fully exercised only where a planning scheme has been made and approved. From my review of this problem and indeed from my examination of the Dublin Town Planning Scheme, I am satisfied that radical changes in our town planning law are necessary. This is not the time to discuss these matters: I am simply mentioning them to indicate to the House that the present proposals are but the first instalment of a more fundamental campaign to improve the physical development of town and countryside. The House will be given an opportunity at a later date to discuss this wider problem.
It will be noted from the supplementary estimate that the grants will be payable to local authorites, private persons, local development associations and other bodies. The grants will be 50% of the approved cost of the works, subject to a maximum grant of £100. No grant will be payable where the approved cost of the works is less than £30. The cost incurred by local authorities and local development associations in acquiring sites may be included in the cost of works for grant purposes.
The sites in respect of which the grants will be payable are sites which are or are likely to become dangerous or injurious to health or to the amenities of the neighbourhood by reason of their objectionable or neglected condition or by reason of the presence on the sites of ruinous buildings, debris, etc. This definition is less restrictive than the definition of "derelict site" for the purposes of the Derelict Sites Bill, 1960.
Works which will be eligible for grants include:
(a) demolition, clearance, levelling, fencing, walling, paving, surfacing, grassing, planting, and/or
(b) amenity works such as provision of shelters, seating, toilets, tennis courts, playgrounds, car parks or other amenities which will be available for use by the public.
Some derelict sites may be suitable for the erection of houses and the grants will be available for the demolition and clearance of any ruinous buildings or walls on such sites.
Details of the scheme of grants will be forwarded to the local authorities through whom applications for grants must be made. If the applicant's proposals are acceptable to the local authority, the local authority will send on the application to my Department. It will be a condition of the grants that satisfactory arrangements are made for the future maintenance of the works.
I recommend the Scheme with confidence to the House and I am sure that Deputies on all sides will do what they can to make the Scheme a success. This is a new Scheme and it is impossible at this stage to make an accurate forecast of the expenditure on the grants.
The provision in the Supplementary Estimate is for payment of grants which may fall due in respect of completed works before 31st March, next. I propose to include in the Estimate for Local Government for 1961/62 a larger provision for the payment of grants in that year.
The object of the Bill is to enable more effective action to be taken to secure the clearance and improvement of derelict sites. The definition of this term in the Acquisition of Derelict Sites Act, 1940, was so restrictive that the majority of these eyesores were technically outside the scope of the Act or could be excluded by works or use which fell far short of the desirable clearance. We are all aware of the deplorable result. Despite local authorities' grave concern with the problem of derelict sites their efforts have been generally ineffective. Many of them have pressed for a very wide definition of "derelict sites" and an endeavour has been made to meet this requirement in the Bill insofar as it would not be inconsistent with the accepted principles for the assessment of compensation in respect of such sites.
The Bill proposes to repeal the Act of 1940 which enabled Local Authorities to secure the clearance of derelict sites only by acquisition or the threat of acquisition. A different approach is now proposed. While it is hoped to spread the net wider, the aim will be to secure voluntary clearance and improvement of objectionable lands and buildings. That is the purpose of Section 2 of the Bill and of the preliminary notice for which it provides. I think we may expect local authorities to make extensive use of this procedure and that property owners who are forgetful of their obligations to the community will be induced to face up to their responsibilities. The scheme of grants, which is covered in the supplementary estimate should greatly facilitate this approach to the problem and should go a long way to relieve any hardship which might be imposed where the local authority have to invoke their powers of enforcement.
These powers are necessary to ensure that owners who undertake to clear their sites will, in fact, do so. Sections 3 and 4 provide also for cases where no undertaking or no satisfactory undertaking is received by the local authority. The power to require works to be carried out is a new feature in legislation affecting derelict sites but the principle is long established in other codes such as the Housing and Sanitary Services Acts. An appeal lies to the Minister for Local Government against any requisition under Section 3.
A general power to acquire derelict sites compulsorily or by agreement is provided by Section 6. It seems inevitable that some cases will remain where acquisition will be the only satisfactory solution, e.g., where the site is abandoned. Compulsory acquisition will be by means of vesting order. This provision of the Act of 1940 is being retained because it is particularly appropriate to derelict sites, being both expeditious and inexpensive.
A local authority proposing to acquire a derelict site compulsorily will be required to give adequate notice of such intention and the occupier or any person having an interest in the land may lodge an objection with the local authority within one month. Where such objection has been made and is not withdrawn, compulsory acquisition cannot be effected without the consent of the Minister. The Bill provides that such consent shall be refused if the Minister is of opinion that the land, which it is sought to acquire, is not a derelict site. He may, however, consent to the acquisition of part of the land if that part is a derelict site. The Minister is also empowered under Section 8 to refuse consent if he considers that the local authority should adopt either of the alternative procedures provided under the Bill, i.e. acceptance of an offer of voluntary clearance or requisition to carry out works.
The remaining Sections of this Bill are generally similar to provisions in the Act of 1940. Compensation for derelict sites acquired compulsorily may, in default of agreement, be determined by arbitration. The basis of assessment remains the value of the site, less the cost of clearance and levelling. I recommend the Bill to the House.