Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Active land management is key and this is missing from the Irish context in housing delivery. It is the pipeline of land for the delivery of homes of different tenures and including affordable, cost rental and social units. I am sure the Minister and others are engaging with approved housing bodies and many of them are having difficulty accessing land and the issue is not necessarily on the finance side. Approved housing bodies are competing with others over limited supply of new homes, with one of reasons being an inability to get a supply of or access to land. There must be a focus on that.

Deputy Ó Broin made a relevant point and I take it his argument was that this agency is not acting to work on this because of fears of potential issues arising from European state aid rules. It would be helpful for the Minister to comment on whether that is the reason this Bill is not as strong as it should be on active land management. Is it because of EU state aid rules or is that a factor in the consideration of how the legislation has been drafted? It is important to get information on that.

It is disappointing the Minister has not engaged with the cross-party group that has been seeking a meeting relating to the Oscar Traynor Road project. I urge him to meet that group.