Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

This is still going on and we must stop it, otherwise we will have the worst name in Europe for not looking after our small towns and villages and even our bigger towns.

The most important aspect of this Bill is the provision for evidence-based core strategy in development plans. These development plans and the housing strategy must now be consistent with regional planning guidelines and the national spatial strategy. That is good.

Some Opposition politicians have decried this legislation and I am sorry that Deputy Hogan has left the Chamber. In my presence he described this as "social engineering at its worst". This was with regard to local area plans. I would like to query Deputy Hogan on that and find out where he is coming from with this kind of logic.

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