Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is being given a high priority by my Department. I appreciate the Deputy's ongoing interest in this issue, which he has raised with me a number of times, as has Deputy Aindrias Moynihan. It is a matter of high priority within Deputy Creed's constituency. He can see from the level of engagement that the Department has had with the local authority on interim sites for additional accommodation and permanent site availability that we have at every opportunity taken the broadest look at available sites and analysed each. The Deputy will be appreciative of the body of work that goes into analysing a variety of sites and their potential. We have done that in conjunction with the local authority, which has been most helpful. Where we thought we had an option for interim accommodation, we even engaged on pre-planning. The Deputy referenced the engagement on and suitability of the site. From many years of service on a local authority, I am aware, as is the Deputy, that pre-planning serves as a positive opportunity for engagement and for ironing out difficulties, which then gives the freedom to proceed to planning. It was not successful in this instance, but that does not mean that we will not continue to go forward-----

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