Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister issue instructions to local authority planners to zone a certain amount of land to facilitate enterprise? It is often the case that planners are unwilling to zone too much land, for whatever reason. Guidance from the Department in this regard would be useful.

Will the Minister consider assigning vacant land in the ownership of IDA Ireland for the purposes of providing car parks to serve small businesses in towns in which there is significant traffic congestion? There are parking problems in most towns that are not bypassed and businesses there are under serious pressure because of lack of footfall. The provision of temporary parking facilities on vacant land belonging to IDA Ireland would remove employees' cars from the town centre. Is the Minister open to considering such a scheme?

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