John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The next topic will not be news to Mr. Coleman because I have said it to him in the past. I genuinely believe that the litmus test for his organisation will be its ability to intervene in regional cities. I am thinking in particular of Waterford and the North Quays as one of those critical brownfield waterfront city centre sites that without State investment will remain empty forever more. This is why the Government has invested €170 million in enabling infrastructure but as part of that master plan, 300 units will be coming in from Harcourt Developments, which is the developer for the site. It is an SDZ and will get approval shortly. For a site like that, what is the preferred delivery mechanism for the engagement of the LDA in the context of affordable purchase and cost rental? If an organisation like the LDA is not involved in the scheme for the North Quays, those apartments will not be viable. I think Mr. Coleman would accept that.