Mr. Terry Sheridan:

Deputy Gould asked what would replace the SHD arrangements after February 2022. As I outlined, we are in the process of establishing a consultation group to try to devise speedier decisions at local level and subsequently at appeal in the board.

What we are talking about is trying to incorporate the more positive elements of the SHD arrangements into the traditional local authority-An Bord Pleanála two-stage process, which would encompass mandatory multi-party pre-application consultation procedures and mandatory statutory timelines to be adhered to, including at appeal level. It is reverting to the system that existed prior to the introduction of SHD, but trying to transfer across the good parts that have been positive.

The Deputy also asked if the SHD process can be stopped now. The Minister has signed an order extending the process to the end of December 2021, which has been further extended to February 2022 because of Covid. I do not believe there is any possibility of overturning that because there is no legislative basis for doing so at present. There were also concerns about the delivery of supply under the SHD process. As outlined in the opening statement, the Department has had concerns about this. That is why, on foot of the review group recommendations, we are coming forward with use it or lose it provisions aimed at ensuring that supply is delivered on site rather than have situations where permissions are allowed to continue unactivated.