Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses to the committee and thank them for the information that was provided, which is a massive help. Their engagement has been exemplary. They have had many public and private meetings. I understand there were four meetings with the petitioner. I have seen how the estate was and where it is going now. I understand the situation was complicated when the developer bought the land.

We understand that there is a housing shortage at the moment and that there are constraints and restrictions. That said, the final proposals and the amount of engagement that the council had with the public was fabulous. I urge the council to keep in touch with everybody but especially with the Minister. The Government is saying that money is available to build housing so I urge the council to put its hand out any time it wants to build homes.

I understand the petitioner's concerns. Sometimes councils can be slow but having read the documentation supplied and having heard Mr. Creighton's opening statement, it is clear that the amount of engagement the council had with the public on this was fabulous. It is the only way to go. We have similar issues regarding a park in my area of Midleton and I am due to meet representatives of Cork County Council on Monday to discuss issues regarding opening up old entrances. Mr. Creighton spoke about the estate having only one entrance and about high levels of antisocial behaviour taking place in lanes.

I would be saying to Kildare County Council, in the context of the Rathangan area, that this is a good news story. The council should carry on with the work it is doing and continue to engage with the people. I understand people's frustration because things slowed down but the public engagement on this and the progress that Kildare County Council has made, as evidenced from the original photographs, makes it a good news story.