David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is really lamentable that we had no representative on this body. It is crucial to the well-being of this State and accountable to the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people who are adversely affected by this situation.

Another issue to which I draw the attention of the House and on which perhaps we could have a debate is the way in which planning regulations for apartments in Dublin have been changed in order to allow ever smaller apartments, tiny little one bedroom apartments into which a bed would hardly fit and for which the minimum size in terms of square metres has been reduced. This is disastrous. The inner city of Dublin is suffering from decisions made ten, 20 and 25 years ago which led to the continued increase in the provision of one bedroom apartments which means there is a completely volatile community passing through the inner city, leaving nothing of value behind.These apartments are neglected by many of the residents, although not all. It is a recipe for disaster, socially and every other way, to have an over-abundance of tiny, cramped apartments in the inner city. This is the Government's response to the housing crisis and the shortage of apartments and other living accommodation. However, it is not appropriate to stuff the city with one-bedroom apartments. An architect who appeared on television last night said these regulations are completely unworkable.