Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I can completely understand the frustration which has caused the occupation of the particular building in question. It is so offensive to walk around Dublin city and see the extent of homelessness.

The Social Democrats supports this amendment. I do not believe the word "planning" should be included in this Bill because it is about development. It will cut out local authorities, centralise a system for large planning applications and will not have sufficient oversight. Each time the market fails, the public pays to price by being cut out of the process or it being made more difficult for it to get into the process. The last time a €20 charge was introduced for planning queries. This time it will be made more difficult and there will not be an appeals process.

We need to know the other range of solutions. I can bring the Minister to sites with planning permission in high demand areas which have not been developed. There are other reasons involved which we need to look into. Planning permission for 27,000 housing units in Dublin alone has not been acted on. If that does not tell the Minister there is another reason, I do not know what does.

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