Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

They are successful and useful by virtue of the fact that they have rarely been invoked in planning authorities. In that sense they act as the best deterrent. That additional sum is still effective from the 2000 Act. They have not been invoked. I do not have figures here on how they have been used but the fact that they are not being used means they are an effective mechanism. That is why they remain in place.