Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I had hoped this would have been accepted on Committee Stage in the Dáil. The amendment is to ensure any public land that goes to the LDA which is under the control of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department, the Commissioners of Public Works or in the Phoenix Park in Dublin is not transferred to the LDA.

It is important that certain lands within the country have a great amenity purpose. From time to time there are proposals on the table, especially when we move in and out of the boom and bust housing cycles that we have had from the foundation of the State. We had them in 1970s, 1990s, 2000s and so on. There is always a call or something of a move to build on or provide housing on certain sites. I want to ensure limits if we are transferring land to the LDA. We do not necessarily have the accountability in the LDA that we have when land is under the control of a Minister. We want to ensure these lands are not transferred.

I had thought that it was self-explanatory and that the Government would have accepted it. The provision tries to ensure that the Bill is future-proofed. I am not suggesting that the Minister has any proposals like that on the table but I believe it is important for future-proofing.

I will come to another amendment that I have proposed which might seem a little strange. It has to do with co-living and student accommodation on LDA lands. I will give an example of why I put this in. Last summer I put in-----