Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The introduction of the national planning framework makes no sense in the middle of a housing crisis when we are seeking to have residentially zoned land developed in an attempt to address the housing issue which is under discussion in this House every day of the week. It does not stack up. I have spoken to private individuals and representatives of the local authority about this issue. In my constituency of Kildare North, land currently zoned for housing would be dezoned under the national planning framework. Building in various areas would be stopped. Significant funding is being invested through the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, and other funding streams to deliver ring roads, bridges, waste water treatment plants and so on. Under the national planning framework, that infrastructure would be built but the houses it will service which were planned for development and growth of certain areas under the guidelines and plans that were in place would not. I ask the Minister of State to take on board the argument my colleagues and I are making, namely, that equalisation of population may make sense at some point in the future, but it does not make any sense now. It must be done on a phased basis over a five or ten year plan or more but certainly not overnight. We ask him to consider this issue because it is having a serious negative impact on local authorities and north Kildare, which I represent.

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