I acknowledge the kind remarks made by my colleagues, Deputy Perry and Deputy Gerry Reynolds, on the opposite side. Not only were they kind remarks but they reflected the co-operation and co-ordinated efforts among Oireachtas Members in the west and in the differing constituencies. I also take the opportunity to pay special thanks to the Minister of State, Deputy Davern, for bringing forward this legislation and for the efforts he made since the commission was announced. In the intervening period, he visited every county in the area, consulted widely and encouraged, in a hands on way, the type of development envisaged under the commission.
The commission is important for a variety of reasons and its functions and role are diverse. One of the important elements is that it will become a co-ordinating forum for other agencies. As was mentioned by a previous speaker, there is a multiplicity of agencies in the west. Some were mentioned, including the county councils, Leader, partnership boards, enterprise boards, the peace and reconciliation fund, regional tourism organisations, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Forbairt, the regional fisheries board and the International Fund for Ireland, which is not a statutory body but has a cross-Border function. We now have the Western Development Commission.
These agencies are doing a worthy job which I witnessed in my constituency recently during a visit by the Minister of State, Deputy Davern. We looked at some novel projects which had been developed. The consequence of the development meant jobs were created, a service was provided and the developments were viable. They were of a high standard and high skills were deployed. I refer in particular to Tulsk and what the community did there, to Boyle and the use of the Internet from the King House in relation to tourism and to the Arigna area where wonderful projects have been engaged in which have created jobs and improved the economy in those areas.
It would be unwise not to recognise that this legislation should not be seen as a conflict between the west and any other part of the country, particularly given the difficulties in urban areas such as Dublin, Cork and Limerick. The problem in the west is that over many years its population has moved to the east coast, although many thousands went elsewhere. The over-population of this beautiful city, the decline in the quality of its services, the critical situation which exists in relation to traffic and housing and the many social problems which exist have been contributed to largely by the population decline in the west.
What is happening in the west may appear at first glance to be a solution to western problems, but I would like to look at the broader picture and see it as a contributing factor in finding a solution to the national crisis where there is such a disparity between places in the west and Dublin, although they face the same problems in many instances.
The departure of our population has left expensive services unused in many areas. On the other hand, there is also a lack of services. Real investment in the area cannot occur unless we are able to service and supply persons who want to invest in business projects or to live there and work in a professional capacity. This type of development is primarily intended to encourage people to come back to the area, create job opportunities for themselves and others and to use available facilities. I hope their return will encourage development and investment by the Department and the Government in other areas.
Rural development and urban renewal has been proposed for many areas of the country. The rural development pilot scheme covers Counties Longford, Roscommon, south Sligo, Leitrim and west Cavan. While I welcome what has been done by the Minister for Finance and his acknowledgement of what needs to be done, designation does not mean anything unless we have the type of investment which ensures basic services such as water and sewerage schemes. Many of the towns in the areas I mentioned do not have water and sewerage schemes. That is hard to say as someone who comes from the west. It is with regret that I say there many places in my county which do not have a quality water supply or a sewerage system. We cannot attract or encourage investment to the villages or townships where such services are inadequate or non-existent. At the end of the day, the opportunity to achieve something through designation will be lost. That is an essential element of this debate and I take this opportunity to make the position clear.
We must also take account of the planning laws in the area covered by the Western Development Commission. Planning is slow and in my county some genuine planning officers are working extremely hard and are engaged in a exercise which, to a large degree, lacks uniformity with neighbouring counties. The personal view of county manager as the planning officer is often superimposed. This results in difficulties for certain types of development. Naturally, development must take account of the highest environmental standards. The time in which a person may hope to receive planning permission should be reduced and, therefore, staffing and the necessary supports should be made available. Above all, it should be recognised that it is not undesirable to build beside a river or a lake or to build in proximity to any amenity provided it is protected, safeguards are put in place and the development is compatible with what should be the case in a rural or urban setting.
In many instances, the opinions of county managers are superimposed on local communities and development is seriously constricted. The ability of individuals to engage in projects or in residential housing is seriously restricted because of the River Shannon, boglands and mountains. Many counties have such features, not to mention others, which may impose restrictions. Some are very legitimate, such as national monuments and places of heritage. The establishment of conservation areas, the protection of wildlife and areas of interest for ornithology impose restrictions. Consequently, we must review the situation.
The executive function in the hands of managers should be broadened as no individual should have total responsibility for designing planning policy, although it is contained in the statutory provisions which apply. There should be a board representation of farming, business, commercial, technical and heritage interests comprising five or six people, each of whom is in a position to evaluate applications expeditiously, while acknowledging the social, economic, environmental and other needs of the area. Such uniformity does not currently exist.
Deputy Kenny and I are aware that in the case of some applications made in respect of areas along the Mayo and Roscommon border, one is seriously restricted in Roscommon while one will find a common sense approach to a similar application in County Mayo. That is not good enough at a time when investment and development is so necessary and, more importantly, the public perception of how the law is applied should be seen to be fair and equal for everybody.
It is also necessary to acknowledge that there is a decline in agriculture. This is my 25th year in politics and each time I canvass I find more unoccupied houses. These houses are surrounded by afforestation. Some have collapsed while people from elsewhere in the EU reside in others. In general afforestation has not had a positive impact on the local community. People will say that Masonite would not be in Carrick-on-Shannon were it not for the afforestation of the area. Masonite did not set up there because of a few thousand acres of young forestry in Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo, Mayo.
However, the effects of afforestation, as described by the EPA, can seriously damage the environment, waterways and fish life. It has not made a contribution to employment, but it has caused our roads to be ripped up, imposed great inconveniences on many local communities and destroyed the landscape. One cannot build a house in particular locations but one can plant hectares of forestry, which in many instances produces poor grade timber, with all the consequences I outlined. There is a presumption that trees grow better on bad land. That is not the case because trees need good land which does not produce the chemical reactions that result in the type of pollution about which I spoke earlier. One can compare this to the often irrational attitudes of planners about the building of a house or a number of houses in what they describe as high amenity locations. The presumed damage done by a number of houses is nil because of the many systems available to treat sewage; it is a well refined concept.
However, afforestation attracts large grants. One can almost carry out a 100 per cent plantation courtesy of one grant. There are also great tax opportunities, but the people engaged in the industry do not live in the areas where the plantations take place. Many of them are involved in major corporate interests that plant for tax purposes. I do not mind people doing well or corporate interests making profits as it is necessary to generate and create wealth to benefit the less well off, but I am concerned when that which is vital to local communities is damaged or destroyed, they are not consulted and doubtful regulations are involved. It is important that this is recognised in the legislation.
The situation in Dublin is critical in terms of transport, crime, drugs and other social problems. I do not like anybody criticising our capital city but we must be in a position to avail of good transport services and technology and develop areas outside Dublin. The many thousands of firms based in Dublin do not have to employ non-core staff engaged in accountancy, administration and personnel in the city. They could be moved to Castlebar, Boyle, Carrick-on-Shannon, Roscommon, Sligo or other towns because the technology is available to allow for such transfers. They could buy cheaper houses and get away from the gridlock in Dublin, thereby avoiding confrontation and road rage. Most people would need a psychiatric consultant's examination on arrival at their place of work in the morning.
