Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the reply. I know I am not going to convince him to change his mind. I would like to just press the value of involvement in pre-planning for him to consider. A site in Clondalkin many years ago had been subject to controversial Celtic tiger-era planning applications. The site was eventually sold to a new developer. That developer wanted to ensure that, to the greatest possible extent before they went to formal planning application, they listened the views of the local community to see if they could incorporate them into the plan. An informal pre-planning consultation took place. It was not statutory. It was by the developer in the community centre who met with local residents to say, “Look folks, this is what I am thinking" and asking for their views. There was an interesting exchange. All of the councillors from the area attended without holding a prejudiced view towards the development. Significantly, the developer listened to the opinions of the local community and incorporated their opinions to the best of their ability in the formal planning application. That dramatically reduced the level concern and hostility from residents in the immediate vicinity towards development. There were virtually no third-party opinions in an area where there had been a controversial planning history. Planning was approved and there was virtually no conflict. That is a good principle.

Again, I know the Minister will not accept the amendments. All I would ask him to do is, in the same way as with the strategic development zone on that macro scale, that we have significant consultation, well before the formal planning process. There is a merit in trying to do something not too dissimilar with large-scale residential developments. I urge the Minister to have a think about it. There is value when communities are involved early, before the zero-sum game on whether they are for or against a planning application. That can create interesting outcomes that improve the application, reduce the conflict and ensure everybody gets a better outcome. I know we will not convince the Minister today, but I ask him to please consider the issue, engage with the Irish Planning Institute and other officials, as well as with his Department. This could greatly enhance the process and reduce a level of conflict that causes great difficulty for applicants, third parties and for the planning authorities themselves. There are ways of resolving some of that in the pre-planning stage.