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

My question relates to the proposed changes to the Planning and Development Act. A key problem in terrestrial planning and housing supply is the use of the planning system by people sometimes to speculate by obtaining planning permissions and increasing land values. It does not always lead to the amount of housing output that is desirable, wanted and needed. What safeguards are in place in this section of the Bill to give us confidence that the planning processes cannot be used to obtain permissions for, for example, renewable energy, which is necessary, only to then not deliver on it? The processes could be used to obtain further permissions down the road for when returns can potentially improve as technology improves. There is a concern that we will not get the delivery of renewable energy that we need because people obtain permissions but do not act on them because they are waiting for technology and returns to improve.