Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister for that answer. I will continue to fight the case for Navan rail. The Minister will appreciate many of the arguments we will make.

On housing delivery, I met recently with officials in Meath County Council. They have, including in their most recent county development plan, consistently argued the case that there is a real cap on development in County Meath in residential terms. They believe that the process, allowing for the lag with the CSO figures from the census, means that, in effect, Meath County Council, consistent with the parameters with the national planning framework and the national development plan, can deliver for a population of 20,000 more than it is being allowed to. The county council is engaging extensively with the Department of housing on that matter, but it obviously has a clear impact on how infrastructure investment might be prioritised. I bring this matter to the Minister's attention to make him aware of it, but also to ask him to engage with the Minister for housing on it as well.

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