Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the democratic process, I will give an example in Wicklow where people have had a raw deal. The national planning framework clearly indicated there would be 30% growth on brownfield sites, compact growth and greater densities. I have no major problem with that but Newtownmountkennedy's local area plan was adopted in 2006. It was rolled over because of the crash. There was a six-year cycle, nothing has happened and we had to move on. The national planning framework for 2040 was adopted and all the regional plans had to be redone and all the county plans put on hold, which meant all local area plans were put on hold.

Thirteen years later, Newtownmountkennedy has no realistic plan. Two applications for planning permission have been granted for high density residential units in two separate pockets that are completely inconsistent with the rest of the village because it has not had an opportunity to renew its plan. It brings us back to the democratic process. Individuals in the town are wasting their time appealing to An Bord Pleanála. They will never have the resources to secure a judicial review. They have never had the opportunity to have an input into how the village develops because of what has happened at national level, although it could apply to become an SDZ. That is just one practical example of what is happening in Wicklow. I question whether the developments are viable but they have been granted planning permission. It is a problem.