Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My understanding of our obligations in both Houses and other related legal obligations is that we need to provide people with opportunities as early as possible to be involved in the planning process. One of the difficulties with this Bill is because of the nature of the changes, it reduces their involvement. It is disappointing that the Minister of State was not open to embracing the spirit of amendment No. 22, if not exactly the wording of it.

What is really crucial is that we all know from our constituencies, especially those who represent people in large housing estates that would have been built during the boom, is that very significant private sector developments do not have adequate infrastructure because the mentality at that time was to build the units and the infrastructure would come afterwards.

It is welcome that the Minister of State is willing to consider the spirit of amendment No. 24 to see if there is a way of returning to it. However, if he does not table an amendment on Report Stage - I realise time is short and that the officials are already under significant strain - I may come back with an alternative wording as this is a very important issue.