Mr. Paul Hogan:

This sets out the framework for national development. Galway has been incredibly successful in recent history. We did some research at the outset of the process back in 2018 and it came across as the most popular place in Ireland for people to live if they had the choice. Galway is very attractive as a place for people to live. We set a target or a level of ambition for the city's growth that we believe is achievable. That target cascades down through the planning system into the regional assembly strategy and the city and county growth strategies. It is up to the city and the county to respond and plan ambitiously for that. As to the structures we are working with, the LDA was mentioned. We have also given a lot of support to Galway through the urban regeneration and development fund, which requires only 25% matched funding for urban development projects. That sort of follow-through, along with investment in capital projects, is intended to realise that potential and allow the city to grow. However, it also comes down to the local authority's plans. We cannot reach into that process to the extent of telling people exactly what to do. It is up to the community, the councillors and the executive in the local authority to plan for Galway city.