Mr. Gavin Lawlor:

In a simple word, yes, but it has to be evidence-based. It goes back to what Ms O'Connor said earlier. The challenge is always to get the resources in place to collect the data; to analyse the data, and in the analysis of the data to understand it. Some of the challenges here - whether the correct housing number is 50,000 or 30,000 - is the point the Senator made in terms of whether we have zoned enough land or not, or the right land in the right location. All of that is evidence-based. In the same way as understanding the challenges with developing brownfields, it we are to put incentives in place to encourage brownfield development we need to understand these challenges.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan spoke about active land management. Let us start there. I do not think it should be transport following planning, but rather being brave enough to invest in transport to encourage planning in certain corridors. The metro is a perfect example. It has been around for 25 years or more and we still have not bitten the bullet, spent the money, and developed it. Had we done that 25 years ago, maybe we would now be talking about an expanded metro system in Dublin where we would encourage connecting places such as Clonburris, Poolbeg, and other settlements and even look for increased densities.