Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As everyone in this House knows, we are in the teeth of a serious housing crisis. We need to build more homes, and we need to build them as quickly as possible. What councillors around the country have done is zone land around our towns, villages and cities for development. They have made the right decision in that regard. Of course, they have zoned the land that is most appropriate, namely, that which is near urban centres. In most cases, this is serviced land and it is the right land to be zoned. We want that land to be developed.

We fully appreciate that there are people who own land that has perhaps been in their family for generations and they do not want it developed. They want to continue to farm it, as the Deputy mentioned, or they may have their own reasons as to why they do not want to move, such as because the land has been in their families for a long time. That is why there is provision in the legislation for landowners to request that their land be dezoned in order that they can continue to milk cows, grow barley or use the land whatever purpose they choose. So far, 210 landowners have made submissions seeking the dezoning of their land in order that they can continue to do what they have done for generations. That option is open to them.

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