Mr. John Spain:

The Irish Planning Institute would have a view that SDZs provide an improved framework over other planning mechanisms for a more holistic approach to development of large scale new areas. Obvious examples of that are in south Dublin, such as Adamstown which has worked to a point and is now being revised to try to get it going again within the current context. That is highlighted in terms of new legislation. Some improvements are needed to address the lack of flexibility in SDZs. There is a need for a much better co-ordinated and joined-up approach. They need to be able to change as circumstances change. One legislative amendment that is required is to have a fast-track mechanism for bringing forward amendments to planning schemes. At the moment there is no mechanism for an amendment; one has to go through the same process as in drawing up a planning scheme for a strategic development zone. That is an issue the Department is looking at under Construction 2020 and we welcome that.

Another key issue that needs to be addressed is the role of An Bord Pleanála because there is no third party role in appeal rights, or even first party appeal rights, within planning applications within a strategic development zone. The appeal process on the planning scheme is very important. At the moment the board has a very limited role because it is restricted by the 2010 Act to making only minor changes to planning schemes. Therefore, there is a danger that we end up with schemes that are, perhaps, sub-optimum in the board’s view because it is not able to take on board the submissions made by interested parties during the process and translate those into decisions involving amendments, other than minor amendments to the scheme. The board’s role is very much confined to minor issues and it needs to be addressed.