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

This amendment is on its own. I can deal with this one. We have a logical sequence to these.

The Deputy has made a number of general points, which is fine. I respect that. He acknowledged that we came from a zero base to where we are. That is part of the debates and discussions we have in the Dáil Chamber. I will mention two things but I will not get into that piece now.

I will deal with the amendment first, if I could. What it would do is to delete "planning authority" and replace it with "members of the relevant local authority", that is, the elected members. I will talk about targets in a minute because there is a relevance to what the Deputy said. As it happens currently, someone has to write the draft strategy. The planning authority, as is written here, is the executive and the members. When a draft housing strategy for any local authority comes forward, it is written in draft form, the members have an input into it and must adopt it. The housing special policy committees in each of the local authorities would be involved. That engagement has changed since I took office. The Deputy asked this here before and we submitted the detail by way of an example. Housing targets across all tenures for every local authority are now published. Housing needs demand assessments and all of that are done and published.

This amendment would put even the drafting of a housing strategy solely in the hands of the elected members. The Deputy and I, along with all members here, know from serving on local authorities that the draft plan is brought forward for input from and adoption by the members. The amendment would effectively remove the executive from that preparatory stage. Who would bring forward the draft housing strategy? The amendment would change the text to "members of the relevant local authority". I take it from that wording that the Deputy is referring to the councillors. The councillors will defend the rights and reserved functions they have 24-7. They have to adopt it and input into it. The Deputy is suggesting they write it and bring it forward. We would need to deal with that element of it.

The Deputy referred to housing targets. As he knows, we will be revising those targets on the basis of real data, namely, the census, which was delayed by one year because of Covid. The 2022 census data is being worked through by the ESRI. In the autumn we will publish new housing targets that will filter down to all local authorities, along with changes to the NPF. It may require in some areas additional zonings of land to provide the housing we need.

Regarding the amendment, the provision I have brought forward is exactly what was in the 2000 Act. The phrase "a planning authority" includes the members. I do not want to exclude the relevant local authority. It has an important role. I get what the Deputies are aiming for with the amendment but the members of the relevant local authority are included already and they have to adopt it. I cannot accept the amendment.