Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

It would be timely to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, to discuss the new planning guidelines as they relate to rural housing. It is high on his list of priorities and he has been exceptionally proactive in recent months in trying to bring this debate to a successful conclusion. However, there are still tens if not hundreds of cases throughout Ireland of young people being inexplicably refused permission to build in their own areas and on their own lands. The debate has been extended for longer than is necessary and it may be time for public representatives who are involved, such as those from this House, to be updated on the current status of the issue and to have an opportunity to comment on whatever guidelines may come into force.