Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 79:

In page 21, to delete line 37 and substitute the following:“(a) the main reasons and considerations on which the decision is based,

(b) where the Board grants a permission in accordance with section 9(6)(a), the main reasons and considerations for contravening materially the development plan or local area plan, as the case may be, and”.

I am proposing this amendment in order to require the board, where it grants planning permission for a proposed development that is in material contravention of the development plan or local area plan, to give the reasons for doing so in its decision. This provision will further strengthen the transparency in the decision-making process of the board in respect of strategic housing development applications and contribute to greater confidence in the overall approach being taken in attempting to expedite applications. The decision in question could be on phasing or master plans. It does not relate to the principle of material contraventions of land that has not been zoned already.

I will be opposing amendment No. 80. It relates to section 10 which provides for supplementary provisions regarding the board's decisions. The amendment proposes to insert a new paragraph in subsection (3) to provide that the board's decision should state or include a copy of any EIA, AA or EIA or AA screening undertaken. However, subsection (3)(a) already provides that the board's decision should state the main reasons and considerations on which the decision is based, which would include reasons and considerations relating to any environmental impact or appropriate assessments. Therefore, this is an unnecessary amendment which I will oppose on that basis.