Call for Garda to have role in housing schemes

The Garda should have a role in the building of big housing schemes to ensure they were not built in a manner which facilitated anti-social behaviour, Denis Naughten (FG, Longford-Roscommon) told the Dáil.

He said that planners in his local authority had jeered and sneered at him for bringing to their attention a number of developments in which anti-social behaviour was facilitated by the design of green spaces that were not overlooked by the windows of any houses.

"Research on anti-social behaviour in different developments shows, and all the top architects in the world will confirm, the importance of ensuring that public open spaces are overlooked by the windows of surrounding properties as that provides necessary security. Sadly, that has not happened in some parts of the country."

Mr Naughten said another problem was the tendency in some parts of the west to allow a montage of brightly coloured houses in housing estates.

"That is completely contrary to the building standards that were in place heretofore. For example, a number of housing estates in Roscommon have houses that are bright red, yellow or blue. If the housing in any village in Roscommon was painted in that manner, the village would be deducted points in the tidy towns competition."

Mr Naughten, who was speaking during the resumed debate on the Building Control Bill, said that in many midland counties, the housing was of a very plain style without the bright colours seen in parts of Munster. "It is a pity that local authorities are allowing such developments to establish themselves in counties such as Roscommon."

Seán Haughey (FF, Dublin North Central) praised the Bill, saying it encompassed a very wide range of issues including fire safety, climate change and industry registration.

He added that the stricter controls on fire safety contained in the Bill were being proposed close to the 25th anniversary of the Stardust tragedy.

"This appalling event is a black mark on the history of this State and, as a public representative for Artane and surrounding areas, I have experienced at first hand the heartbreak and suffering it has caused. I welcome the recent discussions provoked by the landmark anniversary of the disaster and hope they will eventually lead to some kind of closure on the event."

Tommy Broughan (Labour, Dublin North East) intervened to say a new inquiry was necessary.

Mr Haughey said the matter did not arise in the context of the Bill, but he had called for a commission of inquiry and would "pursue this". Mr Broughan said that the Bill, while welcome, was too late.