Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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I thank everyone for coming in. I want to ask more about section 5 and the new section 8 and the declaration on exempted development. Exempted development is a very important part of the planning process. Without it, everything has to go through the planning system, which is more resource intensive. It is, therefore, very important that people have confidence in exempted development and that exempted development works, if you like.

We have established that there is not a major issue with many requests from section 5 declarations. Can Mr. Lawlor explain the significance of why these are relevant or why they are used? What impacts can it can have if a person looks for a section 5 declaration? What is the impact of changing that and taking the public out of it? The Chair said that the third party would be removed from it. In a way, it is not just a random third party. My understanding is that a neighbour who is affected by development that may or may not be exempted development would not have any ability under this to get a declaration. Is that case? What impacts will this have?