Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

With regard to general planning issues, Deputy O'Dowd referred to the removal of the grammar school in Drogheda. When the Minister is drawing up the guidelines, he should consider introducing a regulation whereby if something is removed illegally, it will hinder a planning application for a number of years afterwards. People remove trees which they should not remove simply to facilitate planning applications. Perhaps a measure could be introduced in this regard.

Reports on files should be sent to applicants or their agents once completed. I do not know why they are kept secret. To have them sent would make life easy for us.

The Minister will be familiar with my final point. In the past few days I have come across three objections to planning applications. The NRA objected to one because the application is on a national road. In the second case, the local council objected because it claims the application is on a regional road. The third case involves An Bord Pleanála which knocked a planning application because it is on a country road which is too narrow. This drives the Minister, the public and me mad.

I wish the Minister well with the Bill. There will be much work on it on Committee Stage rather than on Second Stage.

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