Vol. 457 No. 7
11 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment if he will allocate specific funds to local authorities for the provision of playing pitches, playgrounds, parks, open spaces and other amenities with allocations for housing estates. [13549/95]
38 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment his views on whether the quality of the environment is being affected by the intensive building of houses and commercial enterprises; and if he will devise a policy on open spaces in conjunction with a housing policy. [13546/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 38 together.
It is a matter for the planning authorities to set out policy in their development plans for the location and regulation of development and in the provision of public open space and other such amenities in new housing areas. When deciding planning applications, a planning authority must have regard to the policies set out in the plan and may attach conditions to permissions requiring the provision of appropriate facilities. These are matters best left for decision at local level. I have no plans, therefore to change existing arrangements.
The provision of open spaces, playing fields and so on, in local authority housing schemes is a matter for the individual housing authorities in the first instance. Appropriate facilities of this kind in housing schemes are financed from my Department's capital allocations. Local authorities have been advised, in guidelines issued by the Department, that new housing should comprise smaller well-designed schemes, intergrated as far as possible with housing and other development in the area and resulting in the creation of a good living environment for the residents, convenient to all important services and amenities.
Funding is available under my Department's remedial works scheme to assist local authorities in carrying out major structural works to "low-cost" and pre-1940 dwellings and run-down urban estates. Environmental works, such as the upgrading of existing amenity areas, may be included under such schemes where they are considered necessary to support works undertaken on the particular dwellings.
I am very disappointed with the Minister's reply. While accepting that the local planning authority is responsible for providing such facilities, they are not being provided. When the British built Dublin in the last two centuries they provided huge open spaces such as Merrion Square and St. Stephen's Green, within five minutes walk of this House——
Not under local authority responsibility, though.
——whereas now all local authorities are strapped for cash to the extent that they cannot provide facilities. Will the Minister do something about it since they simply to not have the wherewithal to provide such facilities? Indeed a huge number of housing estates was built in major urban areas in the 1970s without recreational or leisure centres, playing pitches or parks, so that we are now being subjected to vandalism ad nauseam for example in Gallanstown last week, Ronanstown and Neilstown last year, or Knocknaheany in Cork, Ballybeg in Waterford——
I must remind the Deputy that this is Question Time.
Will the Minister ensure there is some structural development other than concrete jungles? While I appreciate his inherited predicament. will he demonstrate some initiative by changing the established counter-productive system?
I hope the Deputy will not accuse me of being inactive or of not having initiative. I presume he read very carefully the documentation I sent him in April, some four or five months after I assumed office, detailing the new elaborate social housing plan dealing with specific issues including, for the first time, estate management. A very comprehensive strategy has already been adopted by this Government, launched by me and the Minister of State with specific responsibility for housing, Deputy McManus, details of which have been brought to the attention of members of all local authorities and their officials.
One of the linchpins of this Government's strategy on local democracy is empowerment of local government. I do not intend to centralise in the Custom House all decisions on local spaces, where amenities should be located or what is appropriate to a particular housing estate. That would run counter to our policy and good planning. Rather I want to empower local authorities to get on with the job. We have drawn up the framework, and are providing them with the requisite resources to do just that.
I agree with Deputy Deasy, that local authorities can take all the decisions they want but, if they do not have the requisite resources, it is impossible to implement them. Indeed the second question tabled is more relevant in that, within the overall context of inner city renewal there is now greater demand for a more structured approch to the provision of open spaces and small parks; yet, it is very expensive to acquire land for such purposes. While it is fine for the Minister to say he will empower local authorities to provide such facilities, and while they may take such decisions, they do not have the requisite funds to implement them.
There are a number of things happening simultaneously. I mentioned the social housing policy initiative, representing a total review of the manner in which we look at housing. It appears that Deputy Eoin Ryan is talking about some private development. There will be a mix of developments in response to a nationwide desire for more open spaces around our housing estates. I have answered questions here on open spaces which at night are a hazard to citizens particularly women. That is also a factor that must be taken into account. We must remember that some people choose to live in the heart of our cities, where the quality and density of housing will vary. Not everybody will choose to have a garden, not everybody wants to have an open space but a mix of housing, public and private should be available. Local authorities being subject to local democracy are best placed to make those determinations.
The moneys available under the social housing programme this year are unprecedented, indicating not only a commitment to local authority housing "starts", their type and variety, but also a range of other mechanisms from voluntary housing to estate management being funded by my Department under the new plan.
I regard these two questions as extraordinarily important and have been endevouring to raise them by way of debate for some years past. Seldom do I get an opportunity to raise the matter directly with the Minister. I do not want him to take issue with me on the points I am raising simply because he has been in office such a short time. He spoke about the initiative implemented in April last, the results of which we shall await; the proof of the pudding is in the eating. With regard to "organised" open spaces, as distinct from undeveloped fields—which, for all the reasons the Minister mentioned, are a danger, along with the problem of stray horses frequently found in them— a number of huge local authority housing estates have been provided without any open space facilities. From now on perhaps the Minister will be able to encourage local authorities to provide facilities, perhaps by placing a ceiling on the amount of their grants, specifying or designating a sum for housing and another sum for other facilities. Will he bear in mind the consequences of those disastrous housing estates built in the 1970's? I do not want to be at odds with the Minister but I ask him, please, to recognise the problem.
I must dissuade Members from the notion that they can debate this matter now.
I often feel I come in here to do the job of the Green Party.
I can agree with much of what Deputy Deasy has said, that mistakes were made in the past when the imperative was to build houses and provide shelter for people who were experiencing appalling living conditions. Indeed scant regard was had, say 20 or 30 years ago when houses were built without chimneys or heating systems. We are now spending huge sums of money to rectify those deficiecies. We have learned from that experience, to the extent that all the new developments will have the facilities the Deputy requires. We are looking for "infill" rather than green field sites and are endeavouring to build "communities" as well as housing, a phrase I have used when opening housing estates. Indeed I opened two voluntary housing schemes in Deputy Deasy's constituency in the city of Waterford last week. One was built by the Good Shepherd Sisters and one by RESPOND, both with community centres encompassing a synergy and community-built effort.
An estates management initiative is being implemented but we need to examine the long-term problems in those housing estates about which the Deputy spoke and in respect of which he is quite right. I have a responsibility in that regard and, ironically, the Minister of State at my Department—who wears another hat as Minister with responsibility for sport—also has a responsibility in building up such facilities. It is my hope that, together, we can tackle the real dilemma Deputy Deasy has correctly identified.
I accept the Minister's point that matters will not be as bad in the future given the housing plan in operation for the past few years. However, Deputy Deasy has a point. Can anything be done with those schemes built ten or 20 years ago which are a major problem? While local authorities may have made provision in their development plans for sites, those sites have not been landscaped. They have been left wild, derelict and dangerous. Can anything be done with the old sites? Some of the new in-fill sites are adjacent to them. The plan may work well if it applies from last April or April two years ago, but we cannot try to work for perfection from now on and ignore what happened 20 years ago. Can anything be done about the existing problems?
I agree with the Deputy and we can do both. In new housing developments which link into older ones there can be a common facility and under the capital programme we can provide moneys to service both. I encourage local authorities to incorporate that in their development plans. In terms of the specific upgrading of low cost or pre-1940 dwellings we can include amenity provision as part of general refurbishment work. The Deputy's propositions can thus be accommodated. Under the remedial works scheme we have spent a considerable sum of money, including £18.5 million this year.
A lot of them are not open.
Despite what the Minister has said and his putting in place a strategy which, if implemented, will bring about a major change, will he accept that there is a major lack of recreational provision for young people in local authority estates? The result is that instead of learning to play games or kick football, young people break windows, vandalise public and private buildings and are involved in all types of vandalism and hooliganism. I see no evidence of a Damascus-like conversion on the part of any of the local authorities.
A scheme exists whereby a local authority can set aside 1 per cent of the overall cost of a scheme for the provision of a work of art. Will the Minister consider introducing such a scheme whereby a certain percentage of the overall cost of new housing developments would be set aside to provide proper recreational facilities in conjuction with building of the housing estate? The model exists already with the scheme for works of art.
The Deputy is going beyond the bounds of the question.
On taking office I spent some months examining the housing scheme. After great consultation we have published a new social housing plan which has been largely accepted. It encompasses a number of initiatives. I would like it to be allowed settle and operate and we will see a dramatic improvement. We need enormous resources to rectify all the problems that exist.
I caution Deputies against thinking that any disturbance in a housing estate is immediately attributable to a lack of facilities and can be solved instantly by providing a playing field. Some of the social problems are far deeper and require deeper analysis rather than an instant reaction.
The Minister referred to the voluntary housing scheme. Does the Minister agree that the take up of that scheme has been poor in the area north of a line from Dublin to Galway? Does the relevant information on the scheme go to all interested parties? The take up is disappointing.
There has not been a uniform pattern of take up of voluntary housing money. A significant sum is available this year. If the Deputy is aware of areas where there is a social need he should develop a voluntary group or encourage such a group to contact some of the other well practised groups in the voluntary housing schemes, or contact my Department directly. I would facilitate any such group in an area that might require it.
I am glad Deputy Deasy sympathises with my difficulties in being a lone voice. I wish to be of assistance in arriving at a deeper analysis of the problems and a solution. Has the Minister considered visiting areas such as Gallanstown to see the problems for himself? There is a widespread feeling that there is a lack of concern about these areas due to a lack of visits by public representatives to hear what the residents have to say.
The Minister mentioned value for money in reply to Deputy Leonard. When communities are encouraged to take responsibility for their open spaces and facilities they can bring great change. Encouragement may be as important as funds.
The Minister may carry out a review for the European Nature Conservation Year; it is not entirely in the remit of his Department but is of concern to it. Will the Minister take on board the change in emphasis from the policy of dealing with the natural environment in isolation, for example in large scale wildlife parks, to dealing with nature conversation in the context of the human environment?
The question is over long, Deputy
I entertain any invitations I get to visit areas. Particular responsibility for housing and housing policy rests with Minister of State, Deputy McManus, who is currently in Madrid at a Housing Council meeting. I will pass that message to her.
The encouragement of local involvement is an important issue. Community building involves my Department and many others—the Department of Enterprise and Employment and the Department of Education, for example. It is a matter we will certainly take on board.
With regard to the European Nature Conservation Year there are a number of issues not confined to the macro-issue. The particular focus of ENCY has not been the large reserved parks but looking at nature outside the preserved areas. The natural environment in the urban setting falls therein and has been the subject of many of the projects undertaken this year.
