Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

Does the Minister agree that the key issue regarding the national spatial strategy concerns the availability of zoned land and the market in terms of where people want to purchase houses? Has the Minister produced any figures relating to the capacity of land on the east coast that has been rezoned but not yet built upon?

The Minister stated the national spatial strategy was being used as a means of evaluating the need for infrastructural projects. It was presented as a means of delivering in respect of leisure, education and various infrastructural projects, for example, by way of drawing development from the east coast to other areas. To what extent is the strategy being used in this regard? It seems there is a considerable amount of catch-up in areas subject to a high level of development. It is very difficult to see how the resources can be spent in the two places at the same time.

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