Mr. John Coleman:

The Deputy's question hits on a key point of debate about the LDA. The national planning framework promotes denser development. It promotes a concentration of activity in our larger towns and cities. The Land Development Agency Bill as drafted points us at towns and cities with populations greater than 30,000, although it does not limit us in terms of that being a floor. Under the current draft of the Bill, we can look at towns that have a population of 10,000 or more as well. We have been up and running for two years and have been trying, as we grow from a standing start, to devote our resources and attention to the lower hanging fruit and have targeted sites that became available in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. That has been based on what has been available and also targeting the more chronic areas in the cities from an affordability perspective. The general direction of the Bill is focused on the larger towns and cities. In terms of helping to achieve regional balance, the Bill is well drafted to point us towards assisting with that, given that we will have the ability to help Limerick achieve its population projections out to 2040.

In terms of the LDA not engaging with local authorities and other agencies, I would beg to differ and a good proof point for that is in Limerick at the Colbert Station site. We have engaged quite heavily with the officials, Mr. Pat Daly and his colleagues, on Limerick City and County Council. We have also engaged with other land-owning agencies there, including CIÉ and the HSE, to put together a masterplan for the large-scale new urban quarter in Limerick which will be known as Colbert Quarter. That is really good proof of the LDA's ability to work with local authorities and other agencies but I would go further. Under the Bill, the agency is required to provide services to local authorities. Local authorities should take note of what the LDA has, which is a good staff platform of professionals that can deliver properties and sites. It also has a strong funding position due to funding coming from ISIF and the agency's ability to borrow. In that context, I would tell the local authorities to use the LDA to provide social and affordable housing and to think of the agency's resources as their resources. That is our approach. It is not about being separate from the local authorities or competing with them but about the LDA being used as a tool by local authorities. That is very much our position in that regard.