Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Most of us have been members of local authorities in the not too distant past. If Members of this House feel councillors are not acting on Members' behalf, they can communicate this to them.

Measures to address the housing needs of all sectors of the existing and future population in the area including first-time buyers, the elderly, people with disabilities, students etc. are also in the strategy. The objectives of the development plan on the form, type and positioning of housing are based on detailed local research to ensure that the right units are delivered to the right locations within the functional area of the authority. Each and every applicant for permission for residential development, other than certain exempted residential developments prescribed in legislation, must specify in the planning application how it is proposed to meet the requirements of the housing strategy with regard to the development for which permission is being sought.

The proposed Bill intends to restore the situation we had some years ago. There is nothing innovative in this Bill.

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