Mr. Eddie Punch:

Some excellent points have been made. The labour issue cannot be understated. If we do not solve the labour issue this is pie in the sky. It has to be looked at from two angles. It would be ideal if we could train more people. The issue is that they simply do not want these jobs now. There were lots of references to the great opportunities in Australia. We have to consider this in the context of our immigration policy. If you look at Australia they were blunt about giving priority to the immigration of people who could bring skills that were needed in Australia. We need to think about that in the context of our own immigration policy. In the early part of the 21st century we were building up to 95,000 houses per year. I know people might say we went too far and overheated, but that would not have been feasible had it not been for the immigration of, for example, the Polish plasterer. They went home after the crisis and they are probably not coming back. We have to seriously think about how we get the skilled, and indeed the unskilled people. Unskilled people are really important in building too, if you want to use that term. I do not necessarily like it, but these are real issues.

On the potential for almost €100,000 in grants, I think that is a positive move by the Government, and we have said that. However, it would be tragic if we failed to realise the potential because of continuous pernickety difficulties around the planning process. We really have to look at ways we can send out a signal for consistency that is in favour of pragmatism. On consistency, Clare County Council, with which I am familiar, has a similar approach to Cork in terms of development charges. Hopefully, we will have even more consistency at the weekend on the hurling field as well.