Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I confirm that I am in the Leinster House complex. I very much welcome the establishment of the Office of Planning Regulator. It has a very important function of which I am very supportive.

My question follows on from Senator Moynihan's comments on the SHD plans. Often a plan will go online and the website is then taken down. We were talking earlier about the importance of planning enforcement and how it is under-resourced. It is important that communities have access to those plans because planning enforcement often occurs when people in a local community say, "Wait a minute, I don't think that is what got planning permission." They then check the plans, contact a councillor, Deputy or the planning enforcement section of the council and the matter is then investigated. Not having access to those plans is very serious for local communities and planning enforcement. Can the regulator take action to ensure SHD plans are available online in an accessible format and are not lost when websites are taken down but are made available or stored elsewhere? It is important that the OPR do that.

Reference was made to the way in which Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council interact and the work the regulator is trying to do to ensure there is co-ordination between them. Will that lead to changes in the development plans as regards zoning, densities and so on?

I have a strong view that, as cities grow outwards, it is important to maintain insofar as possible distinct townlands and communities, rather than having them merge or sprawl into each other. Close to where I live, between Baldoyle and Portmarnock, there is a park that separates the two areas. Similarly, Portmarnock and Malahide are separate areas. That is important for identity. Is the national planning policy strong enough to support that?