Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Hogan and everybody in the Department for the work they have done on the new large-scale residential development Bill. It is very welcome. When I was a public representative at local level I complained loudly about the strategic housing development process. I hope this new Bill will address many of the issues that created great concern for communities. I was concerned with the centre of Dublin city.

Mr. Hogan talks about the SHD process and the speed of same and it certainly delivered that. I am encouraged that there will be fixed timescales in the large-scale residential development legislation. I am also encouraged that it will be time bound but that the initial decisions will be taken at a local level. That is important. In terms of the workings of the local authorities, one aspect of the SHD process that the local authority members found useful was this statutory meeting and briefing for the elected representatives. I want to ensure that we have a commitment that the statutory meeting and briefing of local authority members and area representatives for each LSRD application will be maintained. The dedicated website should be kept up after a decision is made. That is important to the elected local members, as well as to the local communities.

Some 52,000 residential developments gained planning permission but the judicial review processes delayed a significant number of them. That speaks for itself but in giving developers and the sector dedicated resources, a time-bound process and the efficiencies, we need to ensure they also have a bit of a stick to deliver and use the precious, important and valuable planning permissions they will receive through this accelerated process. I would like Mr. Hogan to comment on that element as well because the legislation is one part of the process but capacity and delivering increased capacity in homes is important to us.