An Taisce asked to take focus off one-off housing

The Minister for the Environment has said he is "not gunning for An Taisce" but he wants the organisation to redirect its efforts away from one-off housing in rural areas.

Mr Roche who as Minister of State earlier this year accused the body of being "partial not impartial" and called for the removal of An Taisce's special status as a prescribed body under planning legislation, yesterday said he was "more frequently on the side of An Taisce than not".

The Minister also told The Irish Times his new Water Services Bill would not reintroduce water charges "through the back door, through the front door or down the chimney".

The Minister said the kernel of his criticism of An Taisce related to the organisation's stance on one-off rural housing, and he repeated earlier calls for the body to "redirect their efforts" away from the issue.

Insisting that he "couldn't understand why one-off housing had become the focus of so much of An Taisce's efforts", he instanced several occasions where An Taisce, in his opinion, had incorrectly opposed planning applications for one-off houses while at the same time ignoring others.

"Why is there this ideological focus on housing? If there are issues of quality appearance these can be addressed, but country people must be able to live in the country."

Mr Roche said he had "cordial" relations with senior An Taisce personnel, including Mr Frank Corcoran with whom he had shared a stance on issues such as the rezoning of Glen Ding in Co Wicklow.

Mr Roche said he "had stood with" An Taisce on the felling of oak trees in Coollattin as well as illegal dumping. "There is a need for the body," he said.

However, he declined to say whether forthcoming legislation announced by his predecessor at the Department, Mr Martin Cullen, would revoke the organisation's special status which requires planning authorities to notify it of planning decisions.

Mr Roche said he was not prepared to comment until he had studied the proposed legislation.

Referring to the Water Services Bill, Mr Roche said it would not be possible to reintroduce water charges "without revoking the '97 Act" and that was not on the agenda. He also rejected a claim by the Labour Party spokesman on the environment, Mr Eamon Gilmore, that the Bill would pave the way for the privatisation of water supplies.

Describing the claim as "absolute nonsense", Mr Roche said the Bill's objectives were to reorganise 19th century legislation which could have been used to allow water charges; and also to recognise water authorities and group water schemes.

The Minister said that under the legislation, water authorities would have to adopt a water strategy to provide for the adequate water and waste water needs of the local population.

On the question of whether the strategy should be the responsibility of elected councillors or a reserved function of the county managers, Mr Roche said a decision had not yet been made.