Almost a year after the last general election, the Coalition is facing what looks like a defining few months. The decidedly lacklustre start to its term needs to be replaced by a clear focus on the key problems facing the State – and action to deal with them.
There were a range of factors behind the convincing victory for Catherine Connolly in the presidential election – and for the relatively low turn-out and the large number of spoiled votes. But one issue underlying the decisions of voters and the disillusionment of many with traditional politics is the seeming inability to “ get things done ” – and particularly to accelerate the supply of new housing.
If the Government is to make progress on this issue of delivery, then it needs to get on with it. An important few weeks lie ahead, during which sectoral details of the projects due under the updated National Development Plan, a revised housing strategy and a report on accelerating infrastructure delivery are all due to be published.
Much of this should have been tackled by the last government. At least now there seems a realisation in the Coalition about the need for change and a genuine attempt to chart a way forward. That some of its senior figures now express surprise at the barriers to delivery – hiding in plain sight for years – is nonetheless baffling. Some, led by Tánaiste Simon Harris, even came out in support of an analysis of the issues by Stripe’s John Collison in The Irish Times last Saturday, which begs the question of why they did so little to address these issues in their long period in office.
RM Block
True, many of the answers are not straightforward, and there are political challenges. For example, in too many cases TDs from all parties have joined constituents in objecting to each and every housing development and to other infrastructure projects. In many cases, this is supporting those who already have homes in favour of those who don’t. Local politics and the Irish planning and legal systems ensure that loud objectors can often hold sway.
To address the wider issues of delivery, a forensic approach is needed. Ireland does not need a Trumpian approach to slashing the public service, but does require a better way to ensure that departments and agencies focus on actually getting things done and that the regulatory environment allows this. Too much time is now spent on seemingly endless box-ticking and not enough on ensuring proper planning and efficient delivery. The result is sclerosis.
Politics always looks for quick wins. And there are some to be had. However, modern government is complex and a recalibration is needed to ensure that the public administration serves the interests of the public to the greatest extent possible. And that Ministers take responsibility for delivery, rather than pointing the finger elsewhere.
