Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The Minister says this does not bypass the local council. If a resident or a community wants to make an observation on a planning application of over 100 houses they can, at present, write a letter and insert a cheque for €20 or do it online. It is easy enough to do and they can also get advice from councillors. What will the fee be for an individual to make an observation to An Bord Pleanála and how will people be able to do it? Fees to An Bord Pleanála are usually much higher. Does the Minister not accept that, as everybody seems to be saying, this is a real infringement on local councils, if not councillors? In one Fingal development plan there were 90 hours of meetings at the height of the boom. Does he not accept it is an infringement on local planners, who sat in on those meetings and were at the coal face when the decisions were being made or if an application came in? There is no way An Bord Pleanála would have the same knowledge of the local area or the local community.

Will the Minister therefore outline how this will impact on a planning application observation?