Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know Galway city and county well. I have been out in Connemara on several occasions as well as in the city. There are lands in the county, such as the Dyke Road site, which the Deputy will be familiar with. There is also the Sandy Road site. There are sites there we can develop. The register will deal with State lands. The Deputy mentioned the example of lands owned by religious orders. We are seeing some of that come forward in local areas. I want to see that happen. I have written to both of the main churches and engaged with them regarding how we can get this land for use for the development of housing. Fundamentally, we need more homes. We need more social homes. I am pleased to tell the Deputy we are going to deliver more social homes this year - new-build social homes and new social homes - than we have in decades, as well as affordable homes for the first time in a generation. This is happening and I welcome the Deputy's support for this.

I genuinely believe, and I mean this, that I do not believe, through the Land Development Agency, LDA, local residents anywhere in the country should have concerns regarding land zoned for recreation being used in an inappropriate way. We have enough land that can be developed. The Deputy mentioned the docks site in Galway city. I am also very familiar with it and I am anxious to see us move forward with this project. The good thing this year is that we have seen work start on significant sites, such as Shanganagh, as I mentioned, and St. Kevin's in Cork. Work has started on these projects and these are the ones we are going after.

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