Christopher O'Sullivan
Cork South-West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The aim of the hierarchy of the plan-making, as set out in the Act of 2024, is to improve scope for the various tiers of the planning system to more closely relate to one another, therefore providing greater clarity and consistency for all involved, from individual citizens and residents' groups to landowners and developers and ultimately…”
“My understanding is that a ten-year modernisation programme has already been undertaken by the Courts Service and significant progress has been made in improving the availability and use of court data.”
“Under the Act of 2024, the national planning framework continues to spearhead and explicate the planning agenda and sits at the pinnacle of the plan-led system and structure, whereby all tiers of planning from regional to local align with strategic objectives set out in the national planning framework.”
“The Senator has suggested that such plans would identify strategic development priorities, including settlement hierarchy, infrastructure corridors, climate adaptation measures and areas for regeneration; set out indicative phasing for major infrastructure and public investment; include spatial mapping of long-term development objectives;…”
“The Bill also facilitates the completion of the work of the Valuation Tribunal and the facility for the local authority to issue the levy demand and, where necessary, for An Coimisiún Pleanála to deal with any appeals to the demand that may arise in those existing cases currently with the tribunal.”
“As the system of plan-making in the State has just been revised and is being implemented for the first time, the introduction of another layer of plan-making could undermine the new hierarchy that was carefully arranged and agreed following extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the Office of the Attorney General, an…”
The complete record
Every one of 1,346 lines we hold for Christopher O'Sullivan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 25 of 27.
“I am not sure and cannot see right now whether that can circumvent the different terms of the different stages, but I can certainly talk to the Department about whether that will help to progress it faster.”
“Officials from my Department will work closely with county councils to progress their identified priority infrastructural projects within the context of the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide for capital funding. The good news is that this is Laois County Council's new priority. We will work closely with it in identifying the need. Clearly, it is its number one need now. The Deputy has indicated and the council has indicated that a site has been identified. I totally appreciate the Deputy's point and think this copy and paste approach could serve us well in a lot of areas, not just building fire stations. I appreciate there is a design and plan done.”
“Laois County Council has indicated a new fire station for Rathdowney to be its number one priority project for the fire services capital programme 2026 to 2030, which I think the Deputy will accept is good news. The council has secured a new site, which I am hoping is the one the Deputy referenced, and this new site it regards as ideally situated with regard to the road network and traffic flow while retaining a central location close to the retained crews' living and working environments. My Department will be identifying new priority fire service infrastructural projects for 2026 to 2030 in the coming months.”
“In December 2024, Laois County Council submitted an updated preliminary appraisal for a proposed new fire station at Rathdowney, noting several issues with the existing station, including, as the Deputy highlighted, the accessibility of the site for responding firefighters due to its central location on a narrow street within Rathdowney, the station's limited size and poor layout and the limited welfare facilities, particularly in the context, following the August 2023 Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, agreement with retained firefighters, of the increase to 12 in optimal crew numbers at fire stations. The Deputy also made a point with regard to female firefighters and the difficulty and lack of facilities in that regard.”
“My Department officials are working with Laois County Council to progress a new Stradbally fire station in 2025. That is the situation in Stradbally. In the second half of my response, I will go on to highlight where we are in terms of Rathdowney.”
“While the Stradbally fire station project was not initially included in my Department's Fire Services Capital Programme 2021-2025; all projects in the capital programme may be reassessed annually to maximise available capital programme funding, and priority may be adjusted to bring forward projects offering best value for money and to take account the state of readiness of the projects, based on ongoing engagement with local authorities in respect of prioritisation. Subsequently, following reappraisal, approval in principle for a new fire station at Stradbally was conveyed to the council in November 2022. The council approved the tender for design consultants for the project in March 2023 and in February of this year, the council was approved to tender for the construction phase of the Stradbally fire station project.”
“In December 2020, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, announced the fire services capital plan for the period 2021 to 2025, with a funding allocation of €61 million. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works, etc., were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the area risk categorisation of the fire station, established health and safety needs, state of development of the project, value for money offered by the proposal, and the totality of requests from all authorities. At that time, Laois County Council had indicated a new fire station at Stradbally to be its number one priority, with the replacement of Rathdowney fire station as its second priority going forward.”
“The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects. Project consideration stages from a Department perspective include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of a site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of a preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages, with each step subject to approval from the Department. The Deputy will have known all this already.”
“I thank Deputy Stanley. He has highlighted well the challenges they face in Rathdowney fire station. It sounds like they have a fantastic crew and great equipment but they need a new building. The first half of my response will be focused on Stradbally. The Deputy will be wondering why the hell I am focusing on Stradbally, but I will put it in context in the second half of the response, if that is okay. The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003.”
“I take the Deputy's point about three months being a long time for someone who is older. Loneliness is a big issue. The Deputy has made three simple requests and I will endeavour to get answers on them.”
“I presume when the Deputy says a service provider has visited the site, it is the site of the old centre which St. Vincent de Paul has given notice it is closing. I appreciate that and will get clarification on whether it is something that can happen. I will certainly ask the question. The Deputy also asked whether the Minister might be able to visit the community there. Certainly I can see how that would be a helpful exercise. I will ensure that the Minister gets that request and can reply. Right across Ireland, communities have unfortunately experienced this issue where a daycare centre is closed for whatever reason. It is mainly in situations where they are not run directly by the HSE but perhaps by private or voluntary organisations. It causes hurt, devastation and a lot of uncertainty for families and the residents in question.”
“I will endeavour to bring that message clearly back to the Department to ensure that the opening of the new centre at Kilmeague happens as soon as possible, and that everybody is accommodated in the best way possible.”
“All meals on wheels service users have been contacted by the HSE to advise them of this. The HSE is seeking an alternative daycare provider for the Allenwood daycare service and, in the longer term, it is planned that the day service will move to Kilmeague health care centre. Refurbishment works are under way currently and are expected to be completed by June 2025. In the meantime, it is essential that all of the people who relied on this service continue to be provided with reasonable alternatives. I totally appreciate the concern the Deputy has highlighted here, the concerns that have been expressed on local radio. There is a few months of a gap between now and June, when they hope the new centre in Kilmeague will be open.”
“Vincent de Paul that the Allenwood daycare service would remain closed permanently and would cease provision of meals on wheels from 28 March 2025. St. Vincent de Paul has advised the HSE that it has notified all services users of these closures. The HSE sourced alternative daycare places for service users of the Allenwood daycare service in the St. Conleth’s daycare centre in Kildare town. The HSE is providing transport for the service users four days per week, from Monday to Thursday. Some 18 clients have agreed to be referred to the St. Conleth’s daycare centre and 13 clients have confirmed start dates. As the Deputy has mentioned, five have declined attending this alternative daycare for the moment. Additionally, a new meals on wheels provider has been sourced and will commence this service on 1 April 2025.”
“Allenwood daycare centre is a HSE-funded service in Kildare that was managed and operated by the St. Vincent de Paul through a service level arrangement for daycare and meals on wheels services in Allenwood and the surrounding area. As a private, voluntary organisation, decisions about the closure of the service and the employment of staff rest with St. Vincent de Paul. In December 2024, St. Vincent de Paul issued a temporary notice of closure to the people who use this service and notified the HSE older persons services accordingly. The HSE reported that there were 34 active service users at the time when the closure was notified. HSE older persons services contacted all the people affected by this closure, offering them an alternative daycare place from 28 January. On 4 March 2025, the HSE received formal written notice from St.”
“I thank Deputy Wall for raising this issue. Clearly he is in touch with the community there and is aware of the anguish that this type of move causes, the anxiety not just among the residents and their families but the community too, as people are worried about the future of residents. I wish to assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to ensure that proper care is given and that they are accommodated. The new programme for Government has highlighted the importance of our community services for older people, which assist them to remain independent and live in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. Many older people living at home rely on the services they receive through day centres and the outreach those centres provide, which often includes meals on wheels services.”
“It is becoming a very popular place to live and it is a fantastic area, so we may see the population trending in a certain direction that may require the need to investigate this further. I have taken note of those questions and will take them back.”
“The Deputy has asked some questions that I will endeavour to get answers to, namely, how long the survey and the process of reconfiguration will take. On the unmet needs in Dublin 8, I assume it does not take into account whether there is a desire to have multidenominational education or under different patronage. We can find that out. The approach is that, if capacity of any type can be met within any of the existing schools, the Department will favour that route. I take the Deputy’s point about the other areas not far from Dublin 8 where they have managed to establish multidenominational schools. She mentioned Harold's Cross and other examples. I will ask how those decisions came to be and how recent was the analysis that decided there was no unmet need in Dublin 8. As the Deputy noted, there is a lot of building in the Dublin 8 area.”
“According to the Department’s statistics and its analysis of the area, it feels there are no unmet needs in the Dublin 8 area but it has also given a chink of light, in that the matter is under review. I have outlined the other process where a school can be transferred to multidenominational management if there is a will and desire among the parents in the school community to do that. I can get the Deputy more details on that process if necessary.”
“All State-funded primary schools follow a common national curriculum and are subject to the same Department rules and regulations. Given the importance of increasing choice for parents, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, intends to launch a survey of primary school communities shortly. This survey will ensure we have a greater picture as to what our plans need to be into the future. It is planned that the survey will ask parents for their preferences on important aspects of school provision and choice, including demand for a multidenominational ethos. The results of the survey will help us plan how we provide education at primary level into the future. Further details regarding the survey will be announced in due course. I realise this may not be the answer Deputy Cummins is looking for.”
“Based on demographic analysis undertaken, it is deemed that there is not a sufficient unmet demand in Dublin 8 to establish a new school at present and that increasing demographics can be met from within existing schools. Requirements for school places will be kept under ongoing review in this region and across the country. Separately, the schools reconfiguration for diversity process, supporting transfers of schools to multidenominational patrons in response to the wishes of local communities, has been developed in order to accelerate the delivery of multidenominational schools. When a school transfers from the patronage of one patron to another, the school remains open with the same roll number and operating from the same school property.”
“The new criterion for new school entities ensures that all new schools are co-educational, but ethos is determined during the patronage process. These arrangements give an opportunity to patrons to apply for the patronage of new schools. The criteria used in deciding on the patronage of new schools place a particular emphasis on parental preference and language preferences and an analysis of existing provision in the areas where the schools are being established. This approach is underpinned by a 2011 Government decision. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth, as the resources available for school infrastructure must be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase to ensure that every child has a school place.”
“I thank Deputy Cummins. The Deputy's first Topical Issue was extremely well delivered. The Deputy may have answered the question in her own statement but we will get to that later. I appreciate the comments and I will feed back a lot of that. On the provision of multidenominational education, the Government is committed to increasing the provision of education in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities. Work is under way in the Department, by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to deliver on this objective. Since 2011, new arrangements have been in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school places based on demographic exercises carried out by the Department.”
“I accept that some fall outside the criteria. There is a good reason we are supporting and not opposing the motion. There are many elements in it that we need to take on board. For this reason, I thank the Labour Party for tabling the motion. The need to do more for carers is often highlighted in the House by Opposition Deputies and Government backbenchers. It is good that we are focusing on young carers in particular because they do not get the focus they need sometimes. I welcome this opportunity to debate this issue.”
“They are extraordinary but, of course, this has an impact. Mental health and access to education were referenced. We need to take steps to address those issues. That is where the carer's guarantee comes in. It is a programme for Government commitment that carer's will be able to access counselling and education, supports that are vital to ensure carers have good outcomes and their well-being is looked after. Many Deputies mentioned the need for increased respite. As a constituency TD, I understand the desperate needs of many carers, in particular for increased and expanded respite. Another programme for Government commitment is to expand emergency respite care. We will also focus on that. The Minister, Deputy Foley, outlined that some young carers over the age of 16 can avail of some financial supports.”
“I listened to the debate in my office and when I came to the Chamber. I fully appreciate the comments made, many of which were accurate, with many underlining the need to do more. I welcome Family Carers Ireland and the carers here today. Deputies Gibney, Stanley and Murphy referred to the means test and the need to abolish it. That is a commitment within the lifetime of this Government. There is a need and an urgency to do it as quickly as possible. That is the direction of travel of the Government. We are increasing income thresholds to allow more people to avail of carer's allowance. Deputies Boyd Barrett and Stanley mentioned the impact this is having on young people, which is an important issue. These incredible young people are taking it upon themselves to care for older family members or siblings.”
“Funding of €600,000 was allocated by the HSE to Family Carers Ireland in both 2023 and 2024 to deliver the scheme and to provide 27,000 hours of respite per year. This is a Government that supports and will continue to support carers' rights throughout the country. It recognises the challenges that carers, especially young carers, face day to day and it is ambitious in its commitment to ensure that they receive the necessary access to training and financial and well-being resources to ensure they can continue in their caring responsibilities. We will continue to listen to the voices that matter most, the carers themselves and their advocates. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure carers and young carers feel supported and empowered to provide their vital care and that they are recognised for their significant efforts.”
“Respite may be provided in the community, within the person's own home, in HSE residential care settings, by agreement with voluntary organisations or by contracted private facilities. It may involve day or overnight respite. There has been a significant increase in funding for respite and disability services, increasing from €49.3 million in 2020 to €134.4 million in 2024. This allowed for 120,515 overnights and 48,099 day respite sessions to be accessed by 6,640 people with disabilities last year. Since 2021, the home support emergency respite scheme has been in operation, providing emergency respite services either by placement of an in-home care worker or the temporary placement of the care recipient outside the home to deal with the emergency situation.”
“Delivery of home support hours has increased from 17.9 million hours in 2019 to more than 24 million hours in 2025, providing support to 57,000 people in receipt of home support services. Funding for Meals on Wheels and daycare services has been maintained for budget 2025, allowing more than 300 Meals on Wheels organisations and almost 300 HSE-funded daycare centres to operate throughout the country. Respite care is a vital part of the toolkit to support carers. Respite care may involve providing alternative family or residential care for, inter alia , older people, people with physical and intellectual disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic conditions, palliative care needs or addiction to enable the carer to take a short break, holiday or rest.”
“I wish to highlight the health and social care supports provided by the State that help to support family carers, including young carers. The Minister, Deputy Foley, spoke earlier about the carer's guarantee, which aims to standardise supports for family carers regardless of where they live in the country. Services such as home support, personal assistance, day centres and Meals on Wheels support people with care needs in receipt of those services and their family carers, empowering them to take a break from their caring role and look after their own health and well-being. The Government has increased investment in home support services for older people from €495 million in 2020 to approximately €833 million in 2025.”
“The working group is chaired by the Department of Social Protection, with membership of the group including officials from the Departments of Health and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The work of the interdepartmental working group will be informed by a broader review of means testing under way by the Department of Social Protection, the national carers strategy led by the Department of Health and work being carried out by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth under the action plan for disability services 2024-26 to increase family resilience and provide extra supports for family carers. The interdepartmental group will report its findings to the Ministers for Health, Social Protection and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.”
“The Minister referred earlier to financial commitments such as raising the carer's support grant to its highest ever rate; the extension of the carer's benefit to the self-employed for the first time; the increase in the earnings limit from €450 to €625 after tax; and, of course, the gradual phasing out of the means test for carer's allowance which will take place throughout the lifetime of this Government. The programme for Government also includes commitments around access to employment, training and education supports. This will be led by the Department of Social Protection dormant accounts fund action plan 2024 and by the Department of Education well-being policy and framework. In March 2024, an interdepartmental working group examining supports for family carers was established.”
“We are acutely aware that carers, particularly young carers, have a complex variety of needs, including social and educational requirements, that must be addressed by a whole-of-Government Department approach. In that spirit, my colleagues and I across government are committed to working together to address these needs and to provide the appropriate supports that carers, especially young carers, need to ensure they feel supported. It is vitally important we take the time to listen to the voices of carers and hear their stories, experiences and hopes for the sector. The programme for Government has made great strides in responding to many of the concerns that have been raised. This will continue to guide the Government in how we support carers going forward.”
“I welcome members of Family Carers Ireland to the Gallery. I am sure there are carers here as well. We really appreciate their attendance here today. I note the Labour Party motion, which sheds light on a very important matter we absolutely must tackle and deal with. I thank the House for the opportunity to speak on this motion and on the important role young carers play in Ireland today. I thank my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Foley, for her comprehensive remarks earlier which showcased the extent of the work that is being done and will be done by the Government to support carers. The Minister's remarks made it clear this Government places extraordinary value on the work done by carers and is committed to continuing to develop these supports, as clearly reflected in the programme for Government.”
“In order that there be no ambiguity, I reiterate that the tenant in situ scheme will continue. That is down to calls from the Opposition but also from many of our backbenchers, who have, for the past few weeks, been urging the Government to continue with the scheme. That will happen.”
“I thank the Deputies. Addressing Deputy Ó Murchú on the issue of flexibility, the Minister already mentioned that in the context of any circulars or correspondence to local authorities, there will be a degree of flexibility. It will be certainly up to local authorities to implement the scheme. There is nothing at all wrong with having some form of prioritisation. Most schemes involve prioritisation. It is good practice. I do not think it is something we should row back on in the context of this scheme. Deputy Ardagh spoke about streamlining the process. Local authorities will be urged to turn around, as quickly as possible, any tenant in situ purchases where this is deemed to be a solution to avoid homelessness. The proper resources will be provided in that regard.”
“In addition, some local authorities have been better than others in terms of delivery of social and affordable homes, but that has to be the key focus. The best way we can end homelessness and provide homes for all is by housing delivery. That, along with availing of the supports available under the tenant in situ scheme and the delivery of social and affordable homes, has to be a key priority of local authorities.”
“I thank Deputy Ardagh. In fairness to her, she is one of the many Government backbenchers who have called for both the continuation of the tenant in situ scheme and clarification in respect of it. We are glad to be able to confirm that the tenant in situ scheme will continue this year. It is important to provide clarity for people out there. I absolutely agree with the Deputy on that. The scheme has been a success. Well over 2,000 households have avoided homelessness because of the tenant in situ scheme. That is why the Minister said earlier that there is a commitment to continue with the scheme. As to whether or not local authorities will be resourced enough to deliver what is necessary, as with all Housing for All solutions, adaptability and agility are very important.”
“Under revised arrangements for second-hand acquisitions in 2025, local authorities will receive a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for the following priority categories: tenant in situ, the elderly and disabled persons, exits from homelessness and buy and renew acquisitions that tackle vacancy. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and will provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to needs and priorities locally within the categories of need being prioritised. Tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. It is a matter for local authorities to assess the circumstances of each case and decide the appropriate action.”
“I thank Deputy Ardagh. Tenant in situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since their introduction in 2023. Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions in 2025 and has increased the funding available for second-hand social housing acquisitions from the €60 million allocated under Housing for All to €325 million. This is being done through the allocation of an additional €265 million. My Department has been engaging with local authorities on the operational details for the second-hand acquisitions programme. A circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly. That may be an answer to the Deputy's specific question in respect of Dublin City Council.”
“Obviously, I was more familiar with the county council than the city council but certainly the work that Cork County Council did in bringing a lot of these long-term voids back into use was quite impressive. To say the scheme is not working is unfair, but if there are problematic areas or houses that have been void long term then perhaps there can be discussions in terms of bespoke solutions.”
“I thank Deputy Gould for his contribution. As I said, €11,000 is not a limit - more can be put into individual houses - but that is an average. It can also be combined with those energy efficiency grants. Much can be done in terms of improving houses with those energy efficiency grants, which, as I said, are upwards of €48,000. If there are problem areas, I know the Minister, Deputy Browne, has an open-door policy. If there are geographical areas or certain areas in which certain issues need bespoke approaches, I am sure conversations can be had in that regard. However, to say the scheme is not working is unfair. Some 20,000 voids have been brought back into use.”
“This can also be done in conjunction with the energy efficiency schemes. A significant amount is available under those schemes. I agree with the Deputy that we need to get all voids back into the housing stock as quickly as possible.”
“I agree that void houses are an issue, not just from an antisocial behaviour point of view. They are low-hanging fruit in terms of getting houses back into the social housing stock, where they are desperately needed. Some local authorities are better than others but, to be fair, a lot of progress has been made. More than 25,000 voids have been returned to the housing stock in recent years, which means the schemes we have introduced are working. I do not have specific figures in respect of Limerick local authority. Certain local authorities are excellent in terms of turnaround speed, getting their voids back into the housing stock quickly and availing of the grants that are in place. To clarify, the average allowed per house is €11,000 but there is no upper limit per house for refurbishment.”
“The emphasis of the programme is on those refurbishment works necessary to comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 to ensure quick turnaround and re-letting times. All future works should be deferred and carried out under planned maintenance over the life cycle of the asset. Under the voids programme, there is no upper cap that can be spent on an individual dwelling providing the overall average per dwelling of €11,000 is maintained. Funding is also available under the energy efficiency programme of up to €48,850 and can be used in parallel with voids funding where turnaround times are not affected. As part of the programme for Government, consideration is being given to the introduction of a new voids programme with a view to further improve turnaround times of vacant social housing units.”
“I thank the Deputy for the question. I know voids and refurbishment are issues he has raised previously. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure all their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the voids programme. Since 2014 to the end of 2024, Exchequer funding of €361.6 million has been recouped to local authorities, which has supported the refurbishment and re-let of 25,672 dwellings.”
“I appreciate the Deputy's concern about the issue and his constant dedication to pushing these housing solutions across County Cork.”
“Before Housing for All, there were no affordable housing schemes. Many of these schemes are in the process of being designed or built, or keys are being handed over for the first time. There is momentum and we expect acceleration in terms of scaling up and the number of affordable housing schemes that will be available. I have to give credit to Cork County Council officials in particular. Their social housing delivery has been among the best, top notch, and they deserve credit for that. I also see their embrace of affordable housing schemes in my own area, which the Deputy will be familiar with, in places such as Bantry, Clonakilty and Bandon where the first affordable homes schemes are coming online. That should be replicated throughout Ireland. The Minister has committed to these types of schemes being replicated throughout the country.”
“I am very familiar with his passion for affordable housing. He was always an advocate for social housing of all sorts and in Cork county in particular, he has been one of the key voices in ramping up the delivery of different affordable housing solutions. There is a project to deliver 60 cost-rental homes in Kilnagleary, Carrigaline, which is very close to the Deputy's home area and is something he advocated for. Our commitment today is that such projects will be ramped up at speed and we will deliver them as quickly as we can. Since the publication of Housing for All, 10,000 affordable housing solutions have been delivered. We need to do more; we need to accelerate that delivery. That is the commitment given by the Minister and the Department today. I agree with the Deputy about homeowners who are falling between the cracks.”
“Data up to quarter 3 2024 is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website. Affordable housing schemes are operating at scale and this momentum will continue as the pipeline is developed by local authorities alongside AHBs and the Land Development Agency.”