Ms AnnMarie Farrelly:

We can take that away, and we will certainly review it.

On zoning with conditions, to some extent we do that, but probably at a fairly high level in development plans where you know a site. For example, councillors can know sites that need A, B and C done to them and that should not be developed without A, B and C being done. It generally gets lost in that land transaction piece. If it is zoned, it is zoned. It is generally interpreted that way in respect of land value, other than if it needs some significant piece of infrastructure.

Regarding the alignment of core strategies, the involvement of the planning regulator, the taxes, the land value sharing and all of that, we will iron some of that out in future development plans and it will all become more balanced. It is a transition into perfection. On day one, none of these will work seamlessly. Ultimately, however, future development plans will benefit from the various reforms. That is how I view it.

We employ professional services across all disciplines. There are means of ensuring that there are no conflicts. We establish frameworks of planning consultants, for example, or environmentalists. They are required to ensure there are no conflicts with the work they are doing for us versus their private work. There are possibly solutions there if the market sees it being worthwhile to participate. That is the type of thing we would look at, as well as our own in-house valuers in the Dublin region, for example, or across the country.

The Deputy is correct that the 100 staff are part of that. A business case was made for the 540-odd staff, and that is work in progress with the Department. The distinction is that they will be funded posts, which is welcome – the first 100. It is at stage 1 of that assessment.

I might ask my colleague to come on the section of the legislation.