Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State's answer is a bit of a smokescreen, unfortunately. I know he is only the messenger. It is hard to see how there are two junior Ministers in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and neither could be here, with the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, having to field all these questions.

If substantial works are done, the council can look at the matter or whatever else. From then, there was a short window within which the council could give a two-year extension.The ability to roll on planning permission for five years, however, has now been got rid of. Between Covid-19 and different restrictions, there were nearly three years when building could not take place. Put into the mix as well has been the problem we have had with the cost of goods and materials. We have had nearly another year of this as well. I am relatively unhappy with the answer; I do not think it goes far enough. Certainly, what had preceded it is just not good enough. We should amend this because it is tying in one-off houses with larger developments. I do not think it is fair.