Vol. 568 No. 5
81 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction with the planning process among those who live or want to live in rural Ireland; if, as a matter of policy, he encourages or discourages rural residents; and if he has legislative or other proposals in mind in this regard. [16535/03]
Overall Government policy on rural housing has been set out in the national spatial strategy, which recognises the need for sustainable rural settlement to underpin the vibrancy of rural areas. Having regard to this requirement, the strategy sets out a rural housing framework which has four objectives: to sustain and renew established rural communities in a way that responds to the various spatial, structural and economic changes taking place, while protecting the important assets rural areas possess; to strengthen the established structure of villages and smaller settlements both to support local economies and to accommodate additional population in a way that supports the viability of public transport and local infrastructure and services such as schools and water services; to ensure that key assets in rural areas are protected to support quality of life and economic vitality; and to ensure that rural settlement policies take account of and are appropriate to the differing local circumstances in different areas.
In seeking to meet these objectives, the national spatial strategy draws a distinction between rural generated housing, that is, housing needed within the established rural community by persons working in rural areas or in nearby urban areas, and urban generated housing, that is, housing in rural locations sought by people living and working in urban areas, including second homes. The strategy states that, subject to good planning practice on issues such as site location and design, rural generated housing needs should be met where they arise. In relation to urban generated housing the strategy states that development driven by cities and towns should generally take place within the built up areas or by way of carefully planned extension to the built up area. However, for those seeking a rural lifestyle while working in a larger city or town, the strategy points out that smaller towns and villages can cater for this type of housing demand in a sustainable manner.
Additional information.The strategy indicates that these broad policies need to be further developed to respond to the different circumstances in different rural areas, for example rural areas close to larger urban areas, rural areas with a strong agricultural base, structurally weak rural areas which have suffered population loss and economic decline and certain areas where distinctive, traditional settlement patterns have evolved.
The broad principles for rural settlement policy set out in the national spatial strategy will have to be developed in more detail through regional planning guidelines and local development plans acknowledging and responding to the different circumstances in different parts of the country. I intend that my Department will, in the autumn, issue for public consultation draft guidelines on rural housing location in the interests of promoting best practice on this issue.
Does the Minister accept there has been major rural depopulation over the past 40 years? Does he accept that planning policy in those years, including the National Spatial Strategy, has accelerated that processes of rural depopulation? Does he accept that for those of us who are interested in the future of rural Ireland there is a need for a clear strategy that involves those who want to live permanently in rural Ireland being able to do so? Second homes and holiday homes represent a separate issue. Those who want to live and work in rural Ireland should be entitled to do so and not be forced to go into existing settlements.
Would the Minister accept that those who are from rural Ireland have first priority to go back and live in their own areas? Would the Minister accept that those who want to retire to rural Ireland should be entitled to do so? Is the Minister aware of the ridiculous case of the Secretary General from his Department who wanted a retirement home on Sherkin Island where he has been a regular holidaymaker for years? He got planning permission from the county council, but An Taisce objected and he has been fired out by An Bord Pleanála? Does he accept that kind of example shows how ridiculous present Government policy is? If we are to do anything for rural Ireland we must have a positive regeneration policy, which encourages people to live permanently in rural Ireland.
There has to be a balance. In principle, rural background ties should be respected. I referred to the National Spatial Strategy, which sets the broad framework. Over a period there will be work with the regional authorities to establish steering groups. In terms of the rural development and housing, referred to by the Deputy, those who have ties with the countryside should be respected and we must find a balance. Nobody loves rural Ireland more than those who have been reared there and have close ties there. It is a matter for the regional authorities to co-ordinate with the local authorities. Ultimately the county development plans will decide.
The detailed rural housing guidelines will be issued by the Department later to help the local authorities that prepare their policies for inclusion in the county development plans. We are conscious of the problem raised by the Deputy.
Will the Minister of State not accept that if people want to build a house in rural Ireland, they now have to go through so many hoops that they will be worn out and frustrated by the time they get planning permission? There should be a specific policy encouraging development in rural areas for special categories, in particular for those who want to live there permanently and those who are from the areas. That policy is not there at the moment and even though we talk about different strategies and groups, what we really need is a clear statement of intent that we want to encourage development in rural areas.
Will the Minister of State agree that there is uncertainty, inconsistency and confusion about this whole issue? Will he also agree that there is a conflict between those who want rural development and wish to live in a rural setting and those who may never have spent a day in the countryside? Will the Minister of State also agree, since he mentioned it, that the spatial strategy was discussed by everybody else but this House? Deputies had no input whatsoever as we did not have a debate on the strategy. Will he agree that we should have one sooner rather than later?
The Whips will discuss the arrangements for a debate on the spatial strategy in the House and it should be an exciting and lively debate.
The dust will have settled on it by then.
The Department will issue the rural housing guidelines and it will be an opportunity for the public and the local authorities to respond to them. There will be a further opportunity after the draft guidelines are issued. Those living in rural areas and with ties to those areas must be respected. There are no two counties the same and therefore the county development plans must take this into consideration. In many of the county plans, there is the indigenous clause which gives priority to those who have ties to local areas over and above others.
