Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

It is where we get the sráid baile from. As Deputy Deenihan indicated, we have a rich heritage of being able to address the issue of rural settlement and development in the homeplace. If one is from a farm, a nearby village is different. Fingal County Council tried to follow this route. I was one of those who proposed the notion, but people from all parties supported it.

We overzoned and overdeveloped without requisite infrastructure like water supplies and without necessary caution regarding flood plains. I have written many detailed submissions to action plans and local area proposals. I was discussing the issue of flood plains ten years ago. My uncles were involved in areas like Dunboyne, where cattle were up to their armpits, if cattle had armpits, in water.

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