Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The amendment proposes that public consultation should take place before construction commences on all major public developments. Ireland's planning system is one of the most open and transparent in Europe. Members of the public are already afforded significant consultation rights under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-06, and more specifically under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. Most State developments require planning permission and those that do not are subject to an alternative public consultation process. Local authorities' developments are also to be subject to public consultation and therefore I see no need for a further public consultation process under this Bill.

Amendment No. 17 proposes that an access statement be submitted along with the planning application. While I understand the Deputy's intention, I am unable to accept this amendment. The model followed is that for fire safety certificates. It would complicate the planning system too much to require that access statements — and, by extension, fire safety certificate applications — be included as part of a planning application. A developer is required to obtain all three. The various disciplines required for the effective operation of each of the different regulatory codes are quite distinct. Therefore I think Deputy O'Dowd's amendment, in trying to improve the synergies between both codes, could compromise that effectiveness. We should continue to allow the relevant expertise on either side to continue to optimise their resources. I ask the Deputy to withdraw the amendment.

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