Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 9 September 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

General Scheme of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (LSRD) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed)

Photo of Victor BoyhanVictor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to focus on just one question directed to the members of the CCMA. The AILG has been in touch with us and has written to the Minister. It has made an exceptionally strong case for mandatory consultation channels for elected members similar to those provided for in the current sections 8(4) and 8(5). It has worked well. Everybody has said it has. We talk about subsidiarity in planning and about engagement but this is particularly important. These are elected members. It is their development plan. They are guardians of their own development plan, as are the planners and the executive. Having told members of the AILG, who may be listening in to the webcast, that I would raise this matter, their expectation is that they would have support. Despite what Mr. Kelly has said about what the Minister or the Department has said, we will ultimately produce a report. This is a pre-legislative scrutiny process in respect of legislation which is to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas. I would like to hear from the CCMA members as to whether they are supportive. Do they recognise and acknowledge the benefits of this engagement and these meetings? Will they actively support their retention in the large-scale LSRD process? I would like a positive response. I believe that is what the elected members in the cities and counties are expecting to hear.

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