Mr. D?nal McCormack:

I completely agree. We need to put some rights in place for local communities and that is something that can be provided for. I mentioned earlier the idea of community growing spaces and having some flexibility in the definition, rather than just saying there must be an allotment, as is the case in England and Wales. Having flexibility to reflect the needs of the community is important. There is a balance to be struck but having some additional rights for local communities can only help them. I agree that being too prescriptive might stifle the potential in some ways. There are good examples that could be used from some of the community gardens we mentioned earlier.

I am a chartered engineer, so I always look for design standards. One issue I would think about relates to wheelchair-friendly raised beds, for example. That is something on which it would be very easy to be given guidance, and it should not be done at just one local authority level. It could be done for all local authorities because it would be very easy to do. Something along those lines could be done on an all-Ireland level.

Having some sort of right for local communities will prompt a better response, whereby we will not have to wait ten years or possibly longer for some communities to deliver.