John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and I will be brief. I welcome this proposed Bill. It is important that we address the concerns identified in this process across the EU and in court judgments. I will take up this issue from where Deputy Ó Broin left off. My point goes beyond this Bill, but it is related to the enforcement elements of the legislation. People in all constituencies are frustrated when a development is found to be in breach of the planning process, councils pursue the avenues open to them yet they are hamstrung in what they can do ultimately. Resourcing is one element at the heart of this issue. I would like the witnesses to take this aspect up with their colleagues. I refer, in the context of this proposed legislation, to the need to beef up the enforcement element within local authorities. While additional resources are going to be provided to planning sections in local authorities to speed up applications, we must also be mindful of cases where wrongdoing occurs. This is more of a point than a question and I ask that it be brought back to the relevant areas of the Department because it is a point often raised with me by constituents.