Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 14 June 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed)

Ms Maria Graham:

On the final point, there is a clear resourcing piece. There is a recognition that enforcement is probably the area in respect of which resources need to be pulled from other areas. It is quite intensive. From our experience and certainly from the experience of colleagues in the waste area where shared services have been put in, we see advantages to that type of approach. When we started looking at enforcement as part of this exercise, we looked at the distinction between development and activities. If something is built that should not have been built, it is very clear that it is there. Some of the activities are more difficult and need more intensive investigation to see what activity is taking place and who the owners are. There is a range of complex issues, and that is where we believe there are benefits to that type of regional team approach because they may not arise on a consistent basis. That is where we are certainly interested. From a legal perspective, it may just be that the legislation needs to enable this approach for activities. It is probably something where one could start with certain levels of activity and build on that because there is no doubt that we will have to grow the resources in this area.

Mr. Ryan might wish to comment on the enforcement.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.