Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Walsh can understand people wondering whether An Bord Pleanála and a given applicant sat down together. I refer to what a planning authority would normally consider as part of a planning application. If the authority receives an application, it is unusual not to have some request for further information, and that can then be assessed and people can see it. In these situations, however, An Bord Pleanála has ironed out all that before the application comes in. What then comes in, having been discussed by An Bord Pleanála and the applicant, should be fairly right because the applicant knows there is no further opportunity to put in further information. In other words, so much of the decision is made before the formal application is lodged. Again I come to the percentage of cases granted versus those refused. If a very high percentage of them are granted, having gone through the nine weeks of private consultation behind closed doors before the formal process commences, it is no wonder. An Bord Pleanála was part of the process, if Mr. Walsh knows what I mean. He gets my question.