Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)

At the behest of developers, the Government is committed to reducing apartment sizes and removing the minimum 5% community and cultural space. The Minister claimed this will reduce the cost of apartments by between €50,000 and €100,000, but those savings could only be achieved if every single measure were applied. We have had no detailed evidence for this claim, just an internal summary of the LDA's research. At the housing committee, the Minister told me the research will be published. When will the evidence for these drastic changes be provided in full? Will it be after the emergency planning legislation the Government is ramming through the Dáil and Seanad this week?

We were told a couple of months ago that the Planning and Development Act was a once-in-a-generation reform. Eight months later, however, the Government is rushing through amendments. In 20 years' time, when we are dealing with the consequences of large housing developments built without community or cultural space it will be too late. The plan to allow developers seek modification certificates to change existing planning permissions in line with the proposed new rules does not allow for any appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála when such certificates are issued. Does the Taoiseach accept that this is likely to be a further recipe for judicial review?

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