John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I appreciate the comments the Deputy made. It is not just for residential purposes; it is for industrial and commercial. While we do not instruct local authorities on specific areas, it is obviously a requirement to forward planning teams to look at the overall picture within a local authority area and determine where they feel residential, commercial, industrial zoning is appropriate and ensure there is an appropriate quantum of all of those uses within their local authority area. We will write to local authorities in terms of their housing growth requirements. That does open the variation process. The forward planning units within local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that full spectrum of uses is contained in any development plan.

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