Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will add one question, which might save time in the context of coming back twice. I will make one suggestion - in order to save it being made when it comes to introducing amendments - regarding to the issue of notification of those on adjoining sites. We have lots of complicated streetscapes in many of our cities. People could have a planning application with a notice in their garden, but the neighbours who live behind them and who are immediately impacted may never pass up and down their street. An obligation on people who are lodging applications to inform the adjoining site owners would be a very simple amendment to the planning legislation. This would save a lot of heartache because if people have an opportunity to participate, they feel far less aggrieved. They might not get their desired outcome but it is only when they find about a planning application once construction starts, when they never had an opportunity to contribute, that they feel very isolated from the process. It is a very reasonable suggestion that owners of immediately adjoining sites be informed.

There might be two or three owners and it can be delivered by hand or registered letter. It is a small suggestion and I intend to table an amendment on it.