Michael Fitzmaurice warns quarry closures will deepen housing crisis
Michael Fitzmaurice criticised quarry closures and bureaucratic complexity as central causes of the housing crisis, urging simplification and immediate action. He said legislation has shut quarries, risking a near-cartel in supplies, and warned further inaction will force more young people to emigrate.
He warned quarries are being closed "left, right and centre" through legislation, creating a cartel of two or three suppliers and squeezing access to stone and concrete. He pointed to an example from Galway City to the end of Connemara, saying there is currently no quarry open there.
He said there is no single magic bullet and noted he has presented "23 magic bullets" to help solve the situation, arguing for straightforward changes he has applied in Creeconia and elsewhere. He emphasised talking to the people on the ground - the builders and those who actually construct houses - as the source of practical solutions.
He criticised layers of bodies and appointments, warning that creating another housing star or similar role only shifts blame and adds complexity. He urged that councils, planning authorities and departments be empowered to do their jobs rather than adding more layers of oversight.
He warned that at prices around 600,000 many young people cannot afford homes and that continued failure to act will drive further emigration, even among those in work. He said elected representatives must represent the public's interests rather than perpetuating the same approaches that, he argued, are not working.
Quarry closures and building materials
He warned quarries are being closed "left, right and centre" through legislation, creating a cartel of two or three suppliers and squeezing access to stone and concrete. He pointed to an example from Galway City to the end of Connemara, saying there is currently no quarry open there.
Proposed solutions and local reforms
He said there is no single magic bullet and noted he has presented "23 magic bullets" to help solve the situation, arguing for straightforward changes he has applied in Creeconia and elsewhere. He emphasised talking to the people on the ground - the builders and those who actually construct houses - as the source of practical solutions.
Critique of bureaucracy and departmental inaction
He criticised layers of bodies and appointments, warning that creating another housing star or similar role only shifts blame and adds complexity. He urged that councils, planning authorities and departments be empowered to do their jobs rather than adding more layers of oversight.
Impact on affordability and emigration
He warned that at prices around 600,000 many young people cannot afford homes and that continued failure to act will drive further emigration, even among those in work. He said elected representatives must represent the public's interests rather than perpetuating the same approaches that, he argued, are not working.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy: Warns against permanent non-jury Special Criminal Court
Danny Healy-Rae
Danny Healy-Rae: Build Local Authority Homes, Don't Target Airbnb
Brian Stanley
Brian Stanley: Calls for legislation to stop Israeli war bonds
Brendan Smith
Brendan Smith Urges Apprenticeship Access for Youth Reach Graduates
Brian Stanley
Brian Stanley urges end to WWII-era security law
Mattie McGrath
Mattie McGrath attacks rising costs, waste and rogue developments
Transcript
Firstly, to round off, I want to thank Mark Nolan and John Campbell for helping us out. I want to thank each of the speakers that spoke here today, whether it was for or against us. I thank you for spending the time. Minister, just to address a few of the issues that you brought up, it is damning three years ago that I came into the Dáil, and today RT has it, that we are now in trouble. To build a house, you have to dig out of sight. You need stone. You need concrete. It is damning, three years later, after I bring it up on the record of the Dáil, that now we are facing, which was brought up to Deputy English or Minister English a few years ago, that quarries are being closed, left, right and centre, through legislation, and we are heading for a cartel in quarries of two or three. That is what we are heading for. Anyone that knows the building game knows that that is happening. That is the first stage in building a house. Second of all, you talk about no one magic bullet, and you are correct. I have given you 23 magic bullets that will help in solving this situation. And I have seen, you have talked about different reports and different bodies being set up and whatever. The bottom line on it is, if the people do their job that is to do their job, are given the utilities, are given basically the instruments, or the simplification. Everyone can do their jobs without putting layers upon layers upon layers. Because all we are doing, if we get a housing star or whatever, it is another person to blame. That, oh, they should have done their job. But at the end of the day, if everyone is appointed, be it in councils, be it in planning, right through up the ladder to say general does their job. You don't need to be putting more layers on it. What you need to do is simplify it. I have simplified it in Creeconia, I have simplified it in all the different aspects of housing. Because we talked to the people that are building the houses, the people on the ground. That is who sees the problems. And that choice is yours, Minister. And I would worry that if it is the same piano that is playing, it is the same tune you are going to get. And the people that are in the different departments are not used to change. They are not used to making decisions of changing, if this isn't working, we are going a different way. Someone has got to put the boot in. Someone has got to change the tune. And if that doesn't happen, we are going to be in the same situation next year and the year after. If the quarries keep closing, example, from Galway City to the end of Connemara, correct me Laskan if I am wrong, there is no quarry open now. That is the facts. Your Britain is 50 to 80 miles now because of legislation. Was there anything done in the last three years? Has your department done anything? No. And if that is the same thing that you are going to continue in housing, you will be getting the blame. And the next minister will be getting the blame. But the unfortunate part about it is that more of our kids will have immigrated even though they have jobs. Because at 600,000, you cannot afford a house. You would want a super duper job. That is a second hand house. And if we don't concentrate and solve this problem, those kids will keep emigrating. Those children around this country that are having the roof over their head tonight and the figures that will come out Friday will be higher and higher. So it's up to us as elected reps to represent the people and not keep listening to the people that have got a ground for the less key news. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.