I have attended meetings with local residents, councillors and TDs from every party about the world famous Dunsink Observatory. The Dunsink urban plan will see a new town built that will have a bigger population than Longford and there are serious concerns. Even though every person we met wants to see housing on the site, there are serious concerns. Promises of new bus and Luas services are met with deep scepticism and concern, even from the National Transport Authority, NTA. Irish Water stated that there is no chance of phase 1 or 2 being completed without the Shannon pipeline at a cost of over €7.5 billion.

Dunsink Observatory is currently working towards UNESCO world heritage status. This will have serious implications for the density and heights adjacent to the observatory. We cannot have a massive development like this being developer-led. It must be State led. Would the Government support a local authority, cross-departmental and inter-agency team to oversee this development to ensure we do not make the mistakes of the past and that we see the environment and biodiversity protected, as well as public transport, water, schools, etc., put in place as the homes are being developed?

I thank Deputy Donnelly for highlighting this issue in relation to the Dunsink Observatory and the views of the community there as well.

My understanding is that the public consultation process has concluded. The local authority is duty bound to consider all of that feedback. From what the Deputy says, it sounds like it has received quite a lot. It will then be for the local authority to come forward with the next steps. The Government stands ready to assist in any kind of modality or with suggestions the local authority might make as to how best to consider these matters. We await the next decision from the local authority.