Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Over the past 12 months, I have asked this question of the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, and the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. In fairness, the Minister of State, Deputy English, is doing a big job on it. Local needs have been in the guidelines since 2005. The EU has taken Ireland to court over the way it has conducted itself. I believe, in 2016, the Government informed the EU that it would review the local needs situation. Many people in this country want to live in rural areas and, because of these local needs provisions, they are being deprived.

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