Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

From a public representation perspective, it is very frustrating to see what I suggest are aggressive applications being made relative to the neighbourhood. People wonder whether the developer is doing it deliberately in order to be constrained. It deeply upsets the local community. If an even slightly softer approach were taken, people would be on board because they want to see the development of housing. It is just a little pushy and aggressive. If there are nine storeys instead of seven in an old, established residential area, people become very upset. Councillors make all these observations at local level and the application goes to An Bord Pleanála. Mr. Walsh might respond as to how many times applications of that nature have been varied by An Bord Pleanála to be more consistent with the local environment. My major concern, having gone through that process and with people being very clearly upset, is that we still need houses but I do not see them getting built.

I investigated some of this in my area. Ms Graham is right about cost and that is one issue, but why are we spending time on applications without being sure these things can in fact be built? Is there any measure of consideration given on that side? The significant amount of State time, energy and cost to assess the applications, including local energy and investment and the role of the local council, is one thing. Difficulties with Irish Water come up again and again. There is then the matter of judicial reviews. I have spoken to developers to try to weed out what the specific issues are, either with the council or Irish Water. Why are they not developing in the area I represent where I know people need housing? Judicial review comes up again and again. I have no difficulty with residents associations, or people directly affected who have been involved in a process or are adjacent to it, taking judicial reviews, but my question relates to judicial reviews being taken where the applicant had not been previously engaged or involved in any sense. Does Mr. Walsh have any sense of the proportion of judicial review applications where an applicant had not been involved in any way prior to taking such an application?