Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The legislation is the planning Bill. It sets down what is to be. There are two aspects under section 23(1). We must always go back to the core legislation. Section 23(1) states:

(1) The Minister may, at any time, with the approval of the Government, issue a statement ... which shall comprise two parts as follows: (a) national policies and measures on planning matters to support proper planning and sustainable development (in this Act referred to as “National Planning Policies and Measures”);

(b) guidance as to the implementation of the policies and measures referred to in paragraph (a)

Deputy Ó Broin has said he is supportive of national planning statements. This is the legislation that brings about national planning statements. Policy is set by Government. We believe that having the statements approved by Cabinet makes them very strong. Ultimately, what we are looking at here is practical application and what will happen on the ground in local authorities with national planning statements. For example, let us consider something like flooding. The Minister will give the local authorities a national planning statement. They will then have to apply that on a local level within their local plans. They will determine the areas. They will look at the CFRAMs and so forth. That is just by way of example.

This arose from the issue of inconsistency. A planning application in one area of the country should not be assessed in a different way from one elsewhere. The guidance will provide that. It just makes it stronger and more robust. The Government takes the view that the national planning statements issued and signed off by Government bring about a very robust and consistent application in the interpretation of planning policy throughout the country. That is our view. The Deputies opposite may hold a different view.