Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister should instruct local authorities rather than hope that they will be receptive to his wishes. Office blocks of six or seven stories are being built on Nassau Street. I see no reason why there should not be another five or six stories of apartments on top of those developments. That is what is needed. Urban sprawl has gone too far and for too long. It has crippled the public transport system. I acknowledge there are issues in terms of parking. Student developments are being constructed across the city. They are greatly appreciated and badly needed. Restrictions on car parking are not overly severe in those developments, in spite of the fact that the developments will eventually come into wider use. The Minister needs to use the available space. There needs to be outside-the-box thinking and instruction given to local authorities, even if it is for a sunset period, in order to address this issue while we can.

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