Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boyhan. I will take the Green Party slot. Then we are into the third round. Senator Cummins has indicated. I presume Deputy Ó Broin wishes to come back in to lead the mobilisation.

I will stick with the issue of one-off rural housing for the moment and read what the panel has probably all read, the planning regulator's report statement that, "in 2021, one-off houses accounted for 45% of all houses permitted in the State", that is an increase, over 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, from 27%, 29% and 30%, and overall what we have seen in 2021 is an increase of 42% over the 2020 figure. Is the map of the rural housing guidelines to put some focus on the fact we have too much rural one-off housing or not enough of it? How does that work in terms of compact growth, which is a national planning framework objective, and our climate targets, and in terms of sustainable transport as well? All of that needs to be considered. I imagine those rural planning guidelines will be helpful in addressing all of those but the figures are there.

On the ten-year plan, is two years enough to prepare a ten-year plan or do you think you need longer?