Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Government is working on construction policy and will publish a strategy on the issue in the near future. Many planning issues are under consideration and all issues related to planning are kept under constant review. Planning legislation will also be introduced later in the year. However, I cannot provide any commitments on the issue of objectors living in a local area or having valid reasons to object. At this point, there are no plans to change the position in that regard. As I stated, however, these issues are kept under review.

I reiterate that An Bord Pleanála is making good progress in reaching its objectives. While it is not required to meet a target of processing 100% of applications within 18 weeks, it aims to achieve this target and is making steady progress towards doing so. It has assured the Department that it prioritises planning applications that are strategically important or involve job creation. This should offer encouragement that the application in question will be dealt with as speedily as possible.

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