Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I welcome the new planning framework recognising the need to reflect changes since 2018. Back then, it was an innovative plan. Today, we must double its ambition. Setting objectives is one thing, but delivering them is another. We speak of building 50,000 homes per year until 2040. That is achievable, but it demands radical change in efficiency and execution. People are asking about housing now, not just in the future. This morning, I met fifth year students from Mount Sackville school in Castleknock. Their biggest concern is where they will live in the next five to ten years. It is not an abstract worry; it is a real, pressing issue. More land must be zoned. Builders should not be forced to sit on stalled projects with no alternatives. If they can work on multiple sites simultaneously, their skills and resources will be fully utilised instead of being wasted by bureaucratic bottlenecks.

We must also take a serious look at planning permissions that are set to expire despite no substantial work having been done. Complex developments face unique challenges such as funding delays, rising interest rates and logistical hurdles. Banks will not release funding unless developers have sufficient time to complete their projects, for instance. If we do nothing, we risk losing between 50,000 to 100,000 approved homes, I am told, simply because time runs out on permissions. That would be an indefensible failure. Local authorities need clarity on enabling infrastructure beyond the serviced sites fund or urban regeneration and development fund. Without clear direction, they cannot move forward effectively.

I am sure the Minister of State is aware of Dunsink, the long-standing, 1,000-acre strategic land bank in Dublin West bordering Castleknock, Ashtown and Finglas. Approximately 10,000 homes could be built there. It is the last major undeveloped land inside the M50. It must not remain just another potential solution; it must become a reality now. The urban regeneration and development funding has already supported a feasibility study on transport showing the site's potential, yet Dunsink continues to be talked about like a distant prospect. That cannot continue. The Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029 suggests regeneration could take longer, maybe more than 20 years. That is simply not acceptable. We do not have two decades to wait while demand spirals out of control. Yes, the challenges are real. Land ownership there is diverse and there are existing institutions, such as Dunsink Observatory, the Teagasc food research centre, the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh, Elmgreen Golf Club and the former Dunsink landfill. These should not be reasons for any more delay. They should be factors that are actively addressed. If housing is truly a priority, then we must move forward with national funding access, strategic planning, infrastructure activation and ambition. This must be treated as urgent. Fingal County Council needs to bring all stakeholders, including Uisce Éireann and the ESB, to the table immediately and maintain consistent engagement until these lands are activated. We need to stop asking what can be done in ten to 15 years and start asking what can be done today.

While we are talking about density, we must also recognise the economic realities of housing development. High-density projects are necessary, especially near major transport hubs, but we must acknowledge that funding for those large-scale apartment developments is complicated. Few developers can execute them at scale and there is an over-reliance now on State intervention. That is not sustainable. Even when homes are built, purchasing them remains out of reach for many. They are seeing development in their communities but they cannot access those homes. Planning must prioritise viability, not just density targets. We can still meet our compact urban guidelines while allowing greater variety in housing solutions and sustainable planning. That means supporting more builders, encouraging more accessible financing and reducing reliance on State support. These are practical solutions. We have land, plans and solutions. What we need now is ambition and urgent action.

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