Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am also not sure whether the Minister was able to give any reassurance or response in respect of it. I will raise the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, to see if he can get involved, perhaps by coming to the House to discuss this very important issue.

We had over zoning over many years in respect of which there was no control. When I first served as a councillor in 2004 and 2005, hundreds of acres in small and medium-sized towns were being zoned. There was a change in policy to try to regulate what was happening but perhaps it went too far. We need to ensure that we have land zoned not for the sake of it and not to benefit somebody but, rather, to ensure it is serviced and available. We have a mixture of zoning, serviced sites initiatives and investment in services to make sites available for planning. There is also the zoned land tax. The Senator talked about active farmers, who are very important. The Government has been clear on the need to exclude active farmers from the zoning tax. As I said last week, it is my view that lands should not be zoned while being actively farmed without the tax. It is a case of having the lands dezoned, and that policy was there. This is a very important matter. The Senator also talked about the Housing Commission and An Bord Pleanála. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, to come before the House to discuss those matters.

Senator Collins talked about thatched houses, which are part of our built heritage. They are not as common as they once were. As a result, it is important they are protected. I have come across some cases where, for example, a council will not buy a house under the tenant in situ scheme because it had a thatched roof. There is an issue in relation to insurance costs. Obviously, the cost of insurance relates to the risk. Insurance companies have made a judgment on the greater risk from relating to thatched houses. This is a real issue of concern. I am not sure where to go with it but perhaps if the Senator put down a Commencement matter then the Minister of State with responsibility for heritage, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, might be able to shed some light on possibilities. There was a news story during the week of a school in Portnoo in Donegal that is involved in training the next generation of thatchers. That is a positive development. It was on the RTÉ website during the week.

Senator Cosgrove talked of Marian, may she rest in peace, and her daughter Martha in the context of dense breast tissue. The information provided by the Senator is very interesting information. I was not aware of it either. It certainly makes sense that 3D mammograms and breast ultrasound scans would take place in those cases where there is dense breast tissue. I will certainly raise this matter with the Minister. Perhaps the Senator could also table a Commencement matter in order to get a more direct response.

Senator Paul Daly talked about the interesting and positive news in relation to greenhouse gas emissions and lower figures in this regard that are now evident here. Ireland has a grass-based food, beef and dairy system that is different from those in other countries across the world that involve more intensive feeding indoors.That is possibly why the standards are being considered. If there are international standards, there are always outliers. Clearly, if Ireland is an outlier, then we need to be able to use the most up-to-date data about our emissions. I will ask one of the Ministers, Deputies Heydon or O'Brien, to come to the Chamber to discuss this matter.

Senator Linda Nelson Murray, supported by Senator Boyle, talked about the safe routes to school programme. When this announcement, more than 1,000 schools applied. Different tranches have been done over the years. The most recent tranche in November involved 141 schools. There is clearly an appetite and demand. If a school is not picked this year, then parents, the board of management, teachers and principals will ask where it is on the list and when it will be picked. The decisions are made, I believe, by An Taisce-----