Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Okay. When a development plan is changed, it is generally accompanied by a chief executive's report and recommendation, and possibly, the Planning Regulator etc. Will there be criteria set out as to how to make a judgment on whether this land should be dezoned?

A local authority is obliged to have enough land zoned to meet the core strategy and the needs of the population. We have all been through local authorities and are aware of the challenge that presents. If somebody seeks to de-zone land for whatever reason, there is an obligation to zone other land to make up for that in order to meet the requirements of the core strategy. How do we end up getting the balance right between judging how to de-zone land and the obligation to rezone other land that is in the best interests of proper planning, climate, transport and growth of our towns?