Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for choosing this Topical Issue. I will reference a local example, but the underlying issue is one of national importance.

Last Thursday week, 20 March 2014, planning permission which had been granted by Cork City Council for a development on the quays in the city centre of office accommodation for 2,000 workers was appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Under the current rules, any individual or company has an absolute right to make such an appeal. I have two difficulties with the current situation, the first of which relates to the length of time and uncertainty surrounding the appeal process.

An Bord Pleanála uses the unusual term "statutory objective" regarding its intention to deal with appeals within 18 weeks. However, it is not a statutory requirement. There is a statutory requirement on local authorities to deal with planning applications within four months, including a month for extra information. An Bord Pleanála will make the case that it has increased the pace at which it deals with appeals. While Ireland is doing exceptionally well on international competitiveness charts, one area in which we are not faring well involves the uncertainty in the planning process. It is no consolation for a company seeking certainty to wonder whether it will fall within the 20% of appeals to An Bord Pleanála which can take up to a year to process. The proposed development in Cork has a specific client with 700 jobs to offer. We are competing in Cork not only with other Irish cities, but other countries which would like to attract the specific company. One of the reasons the company is willing to locate in Cork is to have specific offices designed and built as quickly as possible.

My second difficulty relates to the mode of appeal. Anyone who has made an application or an objection to an application at the local authority stage may appeal to An Bord Pleanála. The fees on appeal are up to €50. There is no restriction on anyone who wishes to make an observation on a local authority planning application. A person may be based anywhere in the country and object to an application in Cork regarding which he or she has no skin in the game. That must be looked at. People can object for competitive reasons. I note that in Cork an objector has argued that it has similar office space to offer. I assume the company has looked at that. Some business in Dublin might object to a business's plans in Cork without having any reason or having to provide a reason.

I ask that the time for disposing of appeals be made a statutory requirement for An Bord Pleanála. I also ask that the grounds on which an objection can be made be examined while protecting people with geographical or other valid reasons for objecting to a development. We are seeing cases arising in circumstances in which jobs are being created. I urge the Minister to consider the issues I have raised.

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