Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The words of the Minister's plan belie what she has just said to me.

There is no reference to rural housing in the plan, except one, which is to an increased delivery of small housing schemes in towns and villages as an alternative to once-off housing. On top of what the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has clearly indicated, which is that he wants development to take place slowly in a small number of nominated areas, this clearly shows the Government's intent. I understand where the Minister and her colleague are coming from but the Government's intent is that we do not live in the traditional parishes of rural Ireland. St. Thomas', Ballyea and other great hurling strongholds do not exist as far as the Government is concerned or, if they do exist, the quicker we get rid of them the better. The Minister's own plan clearly states that housing in the countryside is not desirable. Does she not accept that is the situation?

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