Last April, the Minister for housing was quoted in the media as saying he would instruct all local authorities to reopen their county development plans and rezone a very significant additional amount of land for residential use so that that land is available for builders to build homes that people need across the country by the end of this year. This is a very welcome initiative. When will the Minister write to the local authorities and spell out what he wants from this process? Will he consider bringing in all the chief executives, directors of service for planning and chief planners along with the OPR’s office to thrash out how this move can result in progressing planning applications for local housing?

The Minister moved early in terms of the national planning framework and the follow-through on that is a circular to all local authorities on zoning and to get more land zoned for residential use. That is absolutely vital and we expect every executive and every county council to follow through on that and to zone more land because that will be essential for the level of housing we require in the coming decade.

The Minister had to go through certain procedures before the direction could issue. I will get the exact date for the Deputy.