Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the previous comments about the fees and public participation. I can see clearly in my constituency that when it comes to public participation, the fees are not a barrier for a significant cohort and then, in other areas where there are people are on low incomes, they are a barrier and obstacle and basically prevent the latter group from participating and giving their views on the planning process. If they were lifted or reduced, we would not see a large volume coming in. We would see a small volume from areas which do not participate in the planning process, because due to the need to make ends meet people do not have a spare €20 or €50 to enable them to put in their submissions. It is deeply unfair. There are other people who participate in the planning process who are able to pay that fee and it does not necessarily cause any kind of hardship or bother to them. This is a real issue that needs to be looked at. Did the review of fees the Minister is considering look at the public participation element of the fees? If it did not, are there any plans for that to be looked at or reviewed?

I concur with the comments made. Through our entire discussion on this Bill and the pre-legislative process, everything has been about the importance of staffing and resourcing the planning system properly. There has been absolute consensus on that from a range of different parties. As part of that, it is really important the planning fees system reflects that in order that, in years to come, it is properly resourced and does not fall down the line of priorities. We also know this is not just about dealing with planning applications. Resourcing for forward planning is hugely important as well and that area has been massively under-resourced. If we get that right, we get a lot of things right in the planning system. Planning fees that reflected somewhat the economic cost of dealing with planning applications would act as a block to the speculative applications that have been clogging up the system and drawing down resources. It is deeply unfair on the planning system to be dealing with speculative applications by someone with the intention of increasing the value of their land with a planning permission but who does not have an intention to build out. They are not bearing the full cost of that in planning fees and that is an issue. Has public participation been looked at in the review and, if not, will it be? The report has been with the Minister since January and might inform regulations. Is there any timeline on that or any kind of commitment on it, given this planning Bill is being dealt with now?