Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think we can all agree that no local authority will accidentally or suddenly max out its targets. What I am saying is that, in real terms on deliverables, what this would do is provide the ability to a local authority to manage its deliverable pipeline. I am sure the Deputy will know of permissions or areas of land in his local area in Fingal that have been granted permission or have been zoned that will not be built on, but right now they could be taken into account as part of the number of homes that could potentially be delivered in that area, thereby not allowing deliverable land that could be developed to come forward for delivery of housing. We all talk regularly and understandably about the current lack of housing, so it is to provide that flexibility and a focus on the deliverable pipeline in line with a county's development plan and with existing zonings. A planning authority would rightly refuse a permission on the grounds of a lack of infrastructure. That regularly happens, by the way, and that is why we are catching up on wastewater and other infrastructure. They are still valid grounds for a refusal. I am just saying, and I have already explained it, that if the housing supply target has been met theoretically, based on the number of permissions that have been granted, we should not have a situation where a local authority would refuse a good planning application on zoned, serviced land that could be delivered.