Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The committee has had the opportunity to meet the LDA and tease out some of its plans. My understanding from those meetings is that its main purpose is not to purchase local authority land. Its main purpose is to assist local authorities in developing these lands, helping with the design, all that planning aspect as well as the financial aspect.

I understand the concern about section 183. I have concerns about it myself. I have met the Green Party councillors group to discuss the matter. It is not the LDA's purpose to set out and purchase local authority land. The local authority land will remain local authority land and it would assist in the development of it. We have had the opportunity to engage with the representatives of the LDA and tease that out with them. I understand the witnesses present have not had that opportunity.