Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On that point, that is why I have some concern about the 36 month provision. Deputy Wallace is talking about the smaller builders, many of whom cannot get finance to build out an entire development. They are getting funding in a piecemeal fashion so that they build five or ten apartments, pocket that money and then the bank might bankroll the next five or ten apartments. That is why it is becoming attractive for the State to intervene and buy the entire development site and develop it in one go. This is about creating opportunities.

My idea with regard to the planning is to try to prevent speculators who just get planning permission. That is why I was talking about having construction drawings built into the planning application process so at least a commitment to build is being demonstrated. Deputy Wallace referred to developers who want to develop out a site but there are other developers out there who just want to get planning permission, flip sites and then move on. That is why I was talking about a two-stage planning process that includes building drawings. That is all I was talking about there.