It is welcome that the Taoiseach has moved from asserting that the declaration of a climate emergency was merely symbolic and that a climate action plan has been published by his colleague the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton. The plan clearly needs further discussion, given the vagueness of actions in a number of areas, not least of which are agriculture and transport. Equally important are further necessary discussions on the required actions to ensure Project Ireland 2040 and the ten-year implementation plan can be climate-proofed against the plan.

In that context, I appeal once again to the Taoiseach to look at Galway, a beautiful bilingual city that is ostensibly thriving on so many levels but the success and development of which belie the reality for many people on the ground. Unfortunately, the growth of the city is taking place in the absence of a city architect and master plan that would put the common good to the fore. Growth is also premised on the private market providing accommodation units, as they are called, and the rolling out of more roads and consequent traffic congestion. This is developer-led development which got the city and country into a bad position in the first place. It is most regrettable that we are back to that position in Galway. The Taoiseach's colleague, the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, agreed with me on two occasions that Galway was experiencing developer-led development. This is not withstanding the repeated use of the words "sustainable development" in the national planning framework and the spirit of the recently published climate action plan.

Government policy has now led to cases where we house homeless persons in what was tourist accommodation, including hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation, while tourists are housed in homes through Airbnb. I am most reluctant to use the example of individuals, but I will quickly relate the case of a person for whom I made representations this week. She has three young children and been on a waiting list for 11 years. During that time she has never been offered a house and the only advice given to her was to go to the housing assistance payment place finder service, which she did, but there were no premises available for her in Galway. The Simon Communities of Ireland has repeatedly told us and given us reports telling us that it is locked out of the market. The person in question is one of 4,000 households on a waiting list. Government policy is worsening the crisis with the HAP scheme which is the only game in town.

Parallel with that, last night at city council level the Land Development Agency, LDA, presented a feasibility study of the four-acre Dyke Road site in Galway.

It is quite clear from what I have looked at that the Government, through the LDA, has no interested in using public lands for the benefit of the maximum number of people for the common good.

These problems are not inevitable. The housing crisis and the traffic congestion in Galway have been created. If we are seriously interested in our words meaning something in this Dáil in terms of the climate action plan, the Government needs to focus on Galway. We need a commitment to putting in place a master plan that will put the common good to the fore and, included in that, there must be recognition that the city will expand by 50%. A feasibility study for light rail is needed as a matter of urgency.

I thank the Deputy for her question. I did not say that the declaration of a climate emergency by this House was merely symbolic. The Deputy used the word "merely", so I guess that was merely disingenuous. I said it was symbolic but that symbols and gestures do matter but they have to be followed up with action. The climate action plan published last week outlines those actions clearly.

Project Ireland 2040 designates Galway as one of the cities we want to see grow its population by 50% between now and 2040 into a city with compact urban growth, most of it happening around the centre, which makes sense for transport reasons and for reasons of climate action to move away from the sprawl of the past towards livable, densely populated urban centres.

I am told that the port company is due to start a public consultation regarding its lands. The Deputy knows those lands very well, and the inner harbour in particular where there is huge potential for new housing, employment and amenities right in the middle of the city centre. NUI Galway has similar plans in respect of Nun's Island.

The idea of a master plan is a good one. Generally, such plans are local authority-led. The Deputy will be aware that Cork, for example, developed the Cork area strategic plan, CASP. I believe Limerick has done something similar with Limerick 2030. The Government would certainly be happy to co-operate and be part of that but usually these plans are best led from the city or county rather than being imposed by central Government. A master plan makes sense. That is a very good suggestion.

On the LDA, the purpose of the agency is to use mainly publicly owned land, and private land, to deliver more housing for everyone. It includes social housing for people who have been waiting far too long on the housing lists such as the family the Deputy mentioned; cost rental housing for people who need affordable rent; and private housing for people who want to buy a home. More than 70% of people own their home. Home ownership is a good thing and we should not be embarrassed about using public land to provide people with their first home. I want to make sure that people who are in their 20s and 30s can aspire to buy their own home. I do not think it is wrong that Government policy, and public land in some circumstances, should be used to enable people to own their own home for the first time.

I welcome the Taoiseach's comment that a master plan is necessary. It is necessary for the Government to take a hands-on approach because Galway City Council has not done that.

I welcome compact, urban growth that is planned in a sustainable way. Within that paradigm, a feasibility study for light rail is needed. The city is destined to increase its population by more than 50%.

On the LDA, let me tell the Taoiseach what it states in its presentation. I know he is extremely busy but he might take the trouble to read it. It states:

Residential Apartments [No. Why?]

Build to sell: not viable given the construction costs and end use values

Residential Apartments

Build to Rent: not viable yet ...

It is not viable yet because the rents are astronomically high in Galway so that land will be used to build a hotel, student accommodation that can be rented out at high rates during the summer, and many other buildings besides, plus retention of car parking spaces in a city that needs to be climate-proofed.

I am using the few minutes available to me to appeal to the Taoiseach to take Galway as an example to implement the climate action plan if he is seriously interested. It is crying out for a sustainable plan. We need light rail and sustainable development in the city.

There is no reason to have a housing or accommodation problem. There is Ceannt Station, the Dyke Road site, the harbour and over 100 acres of land between the city and county councils at the old airport site and more land besides, yet we have a housing crisis in Galway because each is developing its own plan.

A new Galway City Council was elected only in the last month. New councillors have been elected to it. Perhaps this is their opportunity to develop a master plan for the city, one that would be climate-proofed, that would provide for good amenities, public transport and extra housing of all forms. We need it to be of all forms: social, affordable, cost rental and homes for people to buy. The Government is willing and able to engage with the city council in developing a master plan. Elsewhere there is the Cork area strategic plan, CASP, and Limerick 2030. I am sure that if Galway City Council wishes to approach the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, it will receive a favourable reply.