Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Cussen for appearing before the committee for this important discussion. As he said in his opening remarks, this theme is very much linked to local democracy. Like many other members, I come from a local authority background having served as a county councillor for almost a decade. I represent Dublin Mid-West which stretches from Palmerstown and Lucan through to Clondalkin and across to the villages of Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart and Brittas. It is a constituency with two strategic development zones, Adamstown, Ireland's first SDZ, and Clonburris, which I and others feared did not deliver a holistic plan of phased development along with much-needed infrastructure. There is a plethora of active SHDs and a fairly large volume of large planning applications. Dublin Mid-West is, therefore, very much a growing area but what we want is to be a growing community. We want to grow in a cohesive way that delivers infrastructure and amenities hand in hand with housing and protects the history, heritage and character of the seven villages. Mr. Cussen said that planning is all about balance. That is the balance that many of my constituents want us to strike in Dublin Mid-West.

The Office of the Planning Regulator has responsibility for the review of planning functions. What are its findings and recommendations with regard to SHDs and whether they have achieved their objectives? Has the OPR found the prevalence of SHDs has led to an increase in judicial reviews? On SDZs, is the OPR looking at ways of using the experience of existing SDZs to shape the process for new ones? For example, residents in Adamstown feel their experience should be taken on board by the planners who will oversee the development of the Clonburris SDZ. Similarly, has the OPR given any consideration to appointing for each of the SDZs a local point of contact that could report to local authorities on a quarterly basis?

I would love to hear Mr. Cussen's views on planning regulations in general, not just in the context of strategic development zones and strategic housing developments. Does he feel local authorities are adequately resourced to follow up on planning enforcement?

I welcome what Senator Boyhan said about the need to modernise the planning service by moving things online. Mr. Cussen made similar comments. In my area, during the level 5 lockdown, an SHD was proposed on lands adjacent to the Foxhunter pub. People were hiking into the city centre, despite the 5 km restriction, to lodge their submissions on the development. That was not fair and probably highlighted for many people who would not be in touch with An Bord Pleanála too often that some of the system is still archaic.

To give Mr. Cussen some feedback on his collaboration with the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the planning education he has been doing with county councillors, I know many of my local Fine Gael councillors attended his sessions and found them extremely useful. That is especially true of our new councillors. It is fantastic that he is doing that level of collaboration.