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

Yes, but it is really about the fact that the phasing plan comes entirely from the applicant. I totally understand that a draft phasing plan would come from the applicant but my concern is about explicitly giving the planning authority or commission the ability to intervene and put a better order on the phasing. This is a really useful mechanism. I have given an example already, although it would not apply to all applicants.

However, you do see examples where it is all housing in the first and second phases and the much-needed facilities to support that housing are all backloaded. This is not good phasing or planning. At a minimum, the facilities should be spread across the development, if not front-loaded. Some should be front-loaded with the first significant amount of housing. That is the way communities are built. Some larger developments are built out over such a long period, such that there are children who are not even born when the first phase is being built, that it results in the delivery of amenities being late and their provision sometimes getting timed out. Therefore, it makes sense to get phasing right. It is all about the ability to intervene and reorder in the interest of good, sustainable planning. This ability is not strong enough in the section. I appreciate that there is a route through further information, but should there not have been a phasing plan section? Should a stated goal not be to deliver what is needed for good, sustainable development in a balanced way as early as possible? Could this be considered for Report Stage?