Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is not for the Dáil to get into the details of either scheme. Rather, this is a matter for the communities concerned and their local elected representatives and the councils. They are unique sites on which there is strong local community involvement. There is strong political consensus in both areas for the proposals we are putting forward.

The Minister of State's reply is disappointing in that it does not tell us anything different from what he has been saying up to now on this matter. I ask him to respond to the following specific questions. Will he consider taking the two projects out of the land initiative model? Will he consider funding directly the two projects, either through Exchequer funding by way of the capital programme or by approving local authority access to Housing Finance Agency loans to proceed? Has Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council applied for stage 1 approval for such a project in Shanganagh Castle and will the Minister of State actively consider the request of all of the elected representatives in these two areas at local authority level to fund the projects publicly to ensure the best quality social, economic, residential and community dividend?

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