Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Much of what I want to say has already been said, but I wish to reiterate a number of points. The Minister is stabbing local authorities in the back. Previous speakers have mentioned how much the role of local authorities has been diminished. The Minister seems to be further diminishing it and I am very disappointed to see this. Planners who worked through the previous ten or 15 years did so through the good times and the bad times and had to rejig county development plans. In the meantime, these county development plans have been sent to the Department and I am sure they will be ratified. The Minister is bringing in a third party to the process. When An Bord Pleanála ratifies a planning application it eventually returns to the local authority for implementation. The Minister is not providing enough flexibility. We must acknowledge that the pre-planning process is invaluable and has worked successfully in local authority areas on numerous occasions. The Minister should consider the amendment. The consultation process through the local authority, of which I am sure the Minister is aware from his own experience as a councillor, is more friendly and more hands on. With the transparency declarations we now have there should be no worry.

We will have issues with existing developments if local planners have add-ons while the planners from previous planning applications are hands-on. What happens in situations where a big development and a small development are on the same road? How will we have proper co-operation? It will create a quagmire. The planning authority would be able to address all of these issues on a more even keel and even-handed manner. I ask the Minister to reconsider. The local authorities should keep their responsibility. I served on a local authority.

See this speech in context