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

I apologise. I had to pop out to speak in the Chamber. I emphasise one point to Mr. Coleman. When he spoke about Dundrum, he referred to the comparison between it being sold privately where there would only be 10% Part V and the LDA model which is 40%. However, that is not really an appropriate comparison because it is public land. The real comparison should be between the utilisation of 100% of that to meet social and affordable housing need and whether it is 40%, 45% or whatever it ends up being. I impress on Mr. Coleman the need to think about this as different from the use of Part V of the Planning and Development Act. When he comes back to us with legislation, we will look very carefully to see what targets are provided for and engage with the agency at that point.

The strategic land management function is absolutely spot on. However, in the example Mr. Coleman gave of Galway, all the agency brought to the table at that point was additional resources. The Department could have done that itself without the agency to assist the local authority, which would have been able to function just as well as it does with the agency. As such, the agency has a long way to go to make the case for what is in front of us. I look forward to engaging with Mr. Coleman when he comes back at the legislative stage.