Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 7, line 10, to delete "0.1 hectares" and substitute "0.05 hectares".

I thank the Deputies for their contributions, the support for the amendment and for withdrawing their own amendments.

Deputy Wallace is not the only Deputy with a background in construction. A few more of us have that also. The Government listens as do I. Deputy Wallace made a rational argument on Second Stage for a lesser plot size for sites and I agreed with the argument he made. Subsequently, the Government brought forward an amendment to reduce it to 0.5 hectares on the plot size. This is about targeting what we have been speaking about. We know that sites in our towns and cities are causing urban blight and problems. Sometimes there are ownership issues. There is a variety of reasons that they are not being developed and we need to get to the crux of them. The Bill will provide local authorities with the power to focus on these sites and regenerate them. As such, I welcome the support for the amendment.

I am a bit confused as to Deputy Stanley's position. He referred with regard to the last amendment to "other needs". I am not sure what other needs he is speaking about. We are trying to address the housing need and urban regeneration where there is a high demand for housing and a deficit of housing. Strict criteria are there to address that. As such, I am not sure what he means by "other needs". He may want to explain.