Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We can talk through that. It is not a problem. In fact, what we are doing on Part 8 is not very radical. It is really about trying to get decisions two weeks earlier. It imposes a stopgap, in that it forces a decision. Part of the problem with Part 8 is that further information is requested repeatedly to try and create more time for consideration, because there might be political issues that cannot be resolved or whatever. What we are trying to do in the planning system generally, be it Part 8 or applications in general, is to force some timelines so we can get decisions, be they approvals or rejections, and to ensure we have a system that makes decisions.

Another aspect to the changes we are making is that there is a three year sunset clause here. What we are seeking to do is change the system for three years, so we can get significant numbers of new starts up and running and get the planning permissions to get that moving, while at the same time ensuring that the right decisions are made. We spent quite some time with An Bord Pleanála on that to ensure that it can do it. However, I cannot stand for having indefinite delays over and over again on planning decisions because of other issues or distractions that might be localised or whatever. There is too serious a deficit in housing supply for us not to force decisions through the system. This is about making sure we have a robust and good decision making process that makes the right decisions.