Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I fully take on board the points regarding the fiscal opportunity. This will be the largest investment in the history of the State in terms of capital spend on housing and it is a significant move by the Minister and the Department. I note the points about outgoing and new development plans and the fiscal opportunities. Those opportunities for local authorities will still exist through their annual capital programmes and departmental funding, and that is important.

The Senator raised significant points regarding the two amendments. I will not accept the amendments but I will outline my reasons with regard to each of them. Amendment No. 3 seeks to amend section 9 to provide that the LDA will also report on the delivery of housing by the LDA. I do not consider this provision necessary, given that there will be a report under this section on the LDA's progress in achieving the purposes of the Bill and it will include details on housing delivery.

Amendment No. 4 seeks to substitute the provision in section 9 such that the report the LDA will be required to submit to the Minister regarding the achievement of the purposes of the Act should be prepared every three years instead of every five, as currently provided for.

I will oppose the amendments because the acquisition and development of land can take time, as the Senator will appreciate. It is not appropriate for this report to be produced more frequently than every five years. Section 9(2) provides that an LDA report, produced not later than 31 March 2024 and every five years thereafter, will be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. In addition, under section 9, the Minister can require the LDA to report to him or her on the LDA's progress in achieving the purposes of the Bill. The LDA will be required to report to the Minister on its progress periodically, with the first report due in 2024.

Under section 48, the LDA is already required to furnish the Minister with an annual report by 30 June each year. This annual report will be drafted in line with the provisions of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. As the provision of section 48 already requires the LDA to publish an annual report, the report furnished under section 9 is appropriately requested every five years.