Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be clear on this. The issue is that we have not learned from the SHDs. The Minister stated that this is a completely different process and that there are various incentives. We hear a lot about the incentives and the many carrots for developers but there needs to be a stick somewhere. That stick needs to be a use-it-or-lose-it clause. It is simply not enough to say we have done all these things to get applicants to the point where they have planning permission. I am not conflating the issue with SHDs but we need to know what happens if an applicant does not use the planning permission for the purpose for which it was granted, that is, the building of houses. That is where some measure needs to come in. As I stated, this is not my preferred option. I will come back with other options. I am urging the Minister to please come back with some form of use-it-or-lose-it clause. With respect, the zoned land valuation tax is not sufficient. It needs to be a specific conditionality attached to planning permission for large-scale residential development in order to be meaningful.