Mr. Tommy Moylan:

If I could quickly come in. I apologise to my colleagues as an impromptu meeting with the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, has been arranged in the past 15 minutes. We have distributed our policy paper on the draft Bill. While we welcome the elements of the Bill and have been supportive of the special Oireachtas committee set up in May 2016 and of the Minister and the Department on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, we have concerns over Part 2 in regard to the proposal on the setting up of the strategic housing division within An Bord Pleanála to adjudicate on planning applications or fast-track planning applications for residential developments of 100 units plus. It is our firm belief and that of our members and, I hope, the executives of our local authorities that planning and the planned provision of housing have always been a key function of the local authority planning system. Any move away from this, no matter how temporary, as provided for in the Bill, is viewed by us as a further dilution of the role of the local authority. The planning and development of housing projects, be they social or private, need to result in sustainable, integrated communities with access to vital services for the benefit of the people who live in them. This is particularly the case for larger residential developments. By leaving that function within the local planning system for all residential developments, one can be assured that all housing projects are designed to ensure this objective is achieved.

There is no doubt but that there are delays in the planning system. Under this Bill, including under Part 2, the proposal to get rid of a whole tier of the planning function to address delays or perceived delays, is one that my association is totally against. Let us work together to tackle the delays. In our policy document, we have put forward a number of solutions with regard to extensions of time, the requests for further information, and timelines on those requests going back in with a view to reducing delays. To us, getting rid of a whole tier of the planning system for the purpose outlined is unacceptable. We have concerns that there is further centralisation of the planning function. For developments of over 100 units, An Bord Pleanála will become both the consenting and appeals authority. That could have legal implications further down the road.