Vol. 519 No. 7
2 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to allow local authorities to compulsorily acquire land for public and private house building in view of the chronic shortage of land for construction purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14660/00]
Local authorities are empowered by law to acquire land compulsorily for the purposes of carrying out any of their powers, duties and functions, including those in relation to housing. A local authority acquiring land compulsorily may be authorised to do so by means of a compulsory purchase order made by the authority and submitted to and confirmed by me, as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government.
The Planning and Development Bill, 1999, when enacted, will transfer my functions in relation to CPOs to An Bord Pleanála and bring about other changes designed to streamline the CPO process.
My Department recently surveyed local authorities on the extent of zoned residential land currently serviced or likely to be serviced within the next six years. The survey results are being finalised and will be published shortly. An initial analysis of the results indicate that the position in regard to serviced land availability is positive. For example, Dublin local authorities estimate there is enough zoned serviced land available in the Dublin region to provide four years housing output, based on the 1999 record output levels. Based on the programme of water, sewerage, roads and other works going forward, this position is set to improve further. The position in the other major urban centres and their adjoining counties is also positive.
I am sure the Minister of State saw the report today of a number of economists who estimate that house prices are likely to continue to rise by 60% over the next five years. Does he agree that a major factor in the continuing escalation of house prices is the availability and price of building land and the degree to which there is considerable speculation and profiteering in building land? Will he agree that the time has arrived to take building land into public ownership in the interest of house buyers, who are being priced out of the market, and in the interest of good planning? Will he put in place measures to enable local authorities to establish banks of building land not only for their house-building purposes but generally to release land at reasonable prices and to ensure houses are made available for people at affordable prices?
A number of questions tabled relate to various housing matters, including house prices. As I indicated, local authorities have the authority to acquire land and they have been encouraged by the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, and me to acquire land for the purpose of establishing a land bank to facilitate the building of houses in the private sector and the voluntary housing sector as well as the local authority sector. Those powers exist and a considerable amount of land has been acquired by local authorities during the past two years.
The position on land banks in local authorities is positive and it is an ongoing issue. If local authorities use up their land banks, they must supplement them. Based on last year's output, the number of years' supply available to major local authorities does not give cause for alarm. I am anxious that the local authorities exercise their rights and if that requires their issuing a CPO, they have the authority to do so.
The Minister of State as Minister for Local Government almost 30 years ago commissioned the Kenny report on building land. Will he agree it is past time to implement the terms of that report or, at least, some updated version of it to ensure sufficient land is made available at reasonable prices and to remove the degree of speculation and profiteering out of the area of building that is contributing significantly to the high price of houses?
I would be interested to learn why the Leader of the Labour Party, Deputy Quinn, and his predecessor, Deputy Spring, who both held the office of Minister for the Environment and Deputy Quinn who also held the office of Minister for Finance, did not proceed to implement the recommendations of the Kenny report.
Why did the Minster of State not implement them?
The Labour Party, when in Opposition, supported those recommendations, but, when in Government, it did nothing to implement them.
When the Labour Party was in Government people could afford to buy a house.
The Deputy is trying to avoid the issue.
I am not. I asked the Minister of State a question about housing. I do not want a lecture on political history.
Order, please.
That is because the Deputy did not like to hear what I said, but it is the reality. This question is about CPOs. I explained the position and I am sure the Deputy knew the answer to his question before he tabled it.
