(Carlow-Kilkenny): This matter dates from June 1997, not January, which may be a misprint on the Order Paper.
Members of Carlow Urban Council approved the building of 26 houses in Shaw Park, Athy Road, Carlow after all necessary conditions were fulfilled. This was local democracy at work. The Minister of State, Deputy Molloy, swept aside local democracy in the callous and uncaring way he overruled their decisions. There are 500 people on the housing list and many others are willing to build their own. Ten people form the Carlow Friendly Housing Co-operative Society and received permission from Carlow Urban District Council to build in Shaw Park. The Minister has now said they cannot.
The 26 houses, ten co-op and 16 local authority houses, are badly needed. The procedures were followed and people were given an opportunity to make submissions. Eventually departmental approval was given in June 1997. The co-operative society has accepted the tender of a local contractor, acquired the sites and drawn lots for houses one to ten. The 16 local authority houses would be under way were it not for the questions posed by the Minister.
The people waiting for houses are absolutely shattered by the Minister's refusal to allow their plans proceed. The question that must be answered is why the Minister has a special interest in Carlow. He will spend much time explaining that he is "against the loss of public space for new housing" as stated in the letter of refusal.
Shaw Park consists of 5.27 acres, half of which will be used for housing and the other half will be landscaped with amenity facilities. For many years Shaw Park has been derelict and unsuitable because of its hidden position. The housing development, as proposed on part of the park, would provide the social control which will ensure that the remainder of the park, which would be developed to a high standard, has the prospect of being enjoyed by the new residents and Carlow people in general.
There are two other parks owned by the local authority — Graiguecullen Park which consists of 12.5 acres and Hanover Park which consists of 13.15 acres. The ongoing improvement in Hanover Park, under the urban renewal scheme, will provide much needed facilities. Why has permission been refused? I suggest the reason is far less noble than loss of open spaces. Among the submissions made to the urban district council in 1996 was one from Jim Gibbons, Athy Road, Carlow who objected to the building of houses. He said:
Naturally our objections are different from those of the general public as we, the under-signed, [there were three] have our residences adjacent to the park and have little doubt but that we will suffer an invasion of our privacy in terms of being overlooked, greater noise and probable trespass.
A further comment was:
At this stage we would like to know what measures are proposed by Carlow Urban District Council to protect our interests and our property? We are conscious of this because in the past we have suffered much damage by way of theft, trespass and vandalism from the public because of the council's failure to secure their boundaries.
This Jim Gibbons is now Senator Jim Gibbons and chairman of the PD parliamentary party. I suggest it is because of his influence the Minister has banned the housing development in Shaw Park. The Minister looked after his own. This matter is serious for local democracy, for the people who looked forward to being housed and the Minister of State who has preached high standards. We now have low standards in high places with the "pals act" alive and well.
