Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

Question No. 45 in my name, which was answered with Question No. 38, relates to the backlog in the planning appeals system, whereas this question relates to the beginning of the planning process. Does the Minister agree that the objective of planning is to deliver a high-quality built environment and to also encourage rather than impede development? Does he agree that all the relevant processes should be designed to achieve this objective?

Despite the changes to which he refers, does the Minister agree that considerable difficulties remain and that there is a lack of consistency among local authorities? Does he further agree that even though there are problems with regard to the pre-planning process, county managers should be going out of their way to encourage pre-planning discussions in order that, in so far as is possible, any relevant issues could be dealt with prior to an application being lodged?

I am also concerned about the validation process. Why is there an enormous difference regarding the percentage of applications declared invalid in counties Dublin, Limerick, Waterford and Galway, in which the invalidation rate is 40%, and the percentage that obtains in counties, Sligo, Wexford and Louth, in which the rate is less than 8%? Surely there is a need for the Minister to intervene in this regard. Invalidation costs applicants money and delays the process.

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