Ms Maeve Foreman:

Cork is a very good example because the Cork Food Policy Council has been working closely with the city council in identifying plots of land in residential areas that maybe were just grass, and the local communities are taking them over and building small gardens here and there. It is essential that the planning insists that any large development includes a certain amount of green space.

Looking at the difficulties the Deputy has had, many of the most successful projects come from the ground up, where there are volunteers working with the council. The need is there, and there is ample evidence of the need for these growing projects across the island of Ireland. To have councils working with existing bodies of people who have expressed that need is the way to go.