Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I also think this section is very dangerous. We have already made points to the Minister and will certainly make them again on the floor of the Dáil - in particular, the removal of local residents' and councillors' ability to have a say on these developments. Having served on a council, I am aware that local planners know an area better. An Bord Pleanála is much more divorced from a local area. In fact, this legislation could lead to huge problems in future. In my experience, local planners work in a borough for an extended period and are familiar with developments. They are also familiar with developers, including those who have not completed work on other developments. They are able to put requests for additional information based on that knowledge. That will be completely removed now, however, and it will go to An Bord Pleanála which is divorced from local communities and is at a much higher level. This section is not justified and no objective evidence has been presented by the Government that it is needed. The Irish Planning Institute has called it a serious attack on the say of local communities and councillors in being able to put checks on developers, particular concerning developments over 100 houses, which can have major implications for traffic and other issues.