Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I know and I will finish up. We need to listen to each other and learn from it.

We have all mentioned SDZs and how they operate in and around the country. We need to review the structures of strategic development zones. There is a lot going for the Poolbeg west SDZ, but mistakes have been made. I have tabled two Commencement matters on the social and affordable housing element of it. It is being challenged at An Bord Pleanála. We need to look at the SDZ process to ensure it is robust enough not to be challenged at An Bord Pleanála. When the local authority makes a plan and it is agreed, the legislation supporting it should be robust enough that it cannot be challenged at An Bord Pleanála. It is in all our interests, whether the National Planning Framework 2040 or an SDZ, that the legislation behind it is robust enough that we can drive it on and that it cannot be delayed by appeals to different bodies, be it An Bord Pleanála or the Supreme Court.

I ask the Minister to look at what is happening in the SDZ and Poolbeg west, because that site has the potential to deliver 3,500 units but there is the potential to delay that significantly unless we resolve the 900 units that were promised under social and affordable provisions. We need to put our heads together and work out a solution. I put forward solutions to Mr. Brendan Kenny and to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Perhaps we could sit down with the Minister and Minister of State to put forward constructive suggestions on how to get around the impasse.