Mr. Michael Kelleher:

From our point of view, it should be stalled because we have issues. The problem we have is that there is zoned land that is not serviced. That is a big issue. If we had enough zoned land that was serviced, that would bring down the price of land because there would be plenty of it available. The problem is that there is not enough of it. We need to invest in the infrastructure. That is the key fundamental. We have a planning system and we hope that the planning Bill that is working through the Houses will correct some of the issues and blockages in the system, including in An Bord Pleanála, which has a lot of planning applications for adjudication that are not coming through. The problem is we do not have enough raw material, that is, land with planning permission, to develop at the moment. It is constricting the whole system. The other point I will make relates to regional Ireland and smaller builders. The Deputy asked a question about it. The reality is that if this activation measure comes in, the AHBs and local authorities will have a competitive advantage over small builders who want to build private houses. Private houses are also needed in regional Ireland. They will be at a competitive disadvantage because they will have to pay a 30% surcharge to buy the land as this measure is currently constructed. The AHBs and the local authorities will not be part of this measure. That is a huge unfairness in the system.