Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is what my question is about. It is about the development of housing and how it integrates with the general scheme. I would like to hear the perspective of each of the witnesses on this. I welcome the threat of significant sanction where our heritage and monuments may be undermined. With all of the housebuilding going on throughout the country, how will developers know when they have triggered the protections of the Bill? How will they know what to do? I would welcome the understanding of the witnesses as individuals on their interpretation of this.

I have a specific question for Mr. Keaney on the Irish Planning Institute's concerns about head 20, which provides for the Minister to be consulted. I want to understand better why Mr. Keaney feels it is too weak. I support Senator Boyhan in what he said. I also attended the annual Irish Planning Institute's conference for a number of years in the past. I agree this is something that may be quite useful for us as a group to consider attending.

I want to make a quick comment on general scheme and why it is so important to communities such as mine. My constituency is home to the Clondalkin round tower. It is a national monument of historical significance. In recent years it has been transformed into a fabulous interactive museum, tourist attraction and popular cafe called East Village. It has its own gift shop, which sells locally made items such as Tommy Keogh's photographs of the tower. This transformation was led by South Dublin County Council, spurred on by a vibrant and passionate community, in particular groups such as Rally Round the Tower. It was done because of the dedication of former councillors, including Breeda Bonner and Tony Delaney. It was enabled by national funding, which many of us worked across parties to secure. That same site was once the subject of a controversial planning application. Proposed legislation such as that before us would prevent that from ever happening again. What is proposed in the general scheme would preserve such monuments throughout the country and give them the opportunity to become destinations, just like the round tower. This is very welcome.