Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like the Minister to look again at higher density possibilities in that proposal. I think there is even talk of rolling out a new DART service out there. We have to maximise the potential of that site and I am not too sure if the maximum potential is already there.

I appreciate that the Minister cannot talk about the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, but I just want to emphasise the importance of transparency here. There will be freedom of information, FOI, requests, there will be county managers saying one thing, there will be different councils saying that it is for the Minister to make the decision while the Department says it is a matter for the local authorities, so there are a lot of gaps here. Who is actually making the pitch when it comes to LIHAF? There will certainly be transparency issues, FOI requests will be made and parliamentary questions will be answered. The Minister is aware of that but he just needs to be conscious that there is a need for transparency in anything he does.

Would the Minister consider raising the proposed vacant site levy above the 3% level? This has been recommended by both the ESRI and NAMA and should be considered in the context of bringing the tax forward for 2018. He should at least consider it because it is important. Will he also engage with the Minister for Finance with a view to ending the capital gains tax holiday given in 2012? This measure resulted in the rewarding of land hoarding.

These are facts highlighted by the Union of Students of Ireland, USI, and others. I am not some genius who has identified these facts but, rather, I am communicating what others are seeking to point out. The Minister should engage with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to end the capital gains tax holiday given in 2012 that rewarded land hoarding. That is a simple measure the Minister could undertake.

One often hears about An Bord Pleanála in the context of Rebuilding Ireland. Its chair attended this committee and there was discussion of resources and the fast-tracking of planning applications. There are big problems in An Bord Pleanála. Members predicted those problems and highlighted them to the previous Minister, Deputy Coveney, who assured them that it would be resourced and that online applications would be available. People still cannot go online to see some fast-tracking applications, and that is a shortcoming the Minister needs to consider.

The Flemish decree was discussed on the "Morning Ireland" radio programme today. I have a letter dated 9 May 2017 and signed by the former Minister, Deputy Coveney, who undertook to establish a review group in regard to the Flemish decree. This morning's radio discussion related to the locals-only rule in rural communities. That is a pressing issue and the Minister should update members in the coming weeks on the Government's intentions in this regard.