Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

They are future voters.

I raised an issue with the Taoiseach on Leaders' Questions in September 2017 about Apple's plans to build a data centre near Athenry, County Galway. My concerns proved well grounded in light of Apple's subsequent decision not to go ahead with that development. At that time, the Taoiseach agreed that planning issues and delays in the courts undermined the case for future investment in Ireland and stated that the Government intended to act on the matter. We still have in place a planning system which is riddled with flaws and which is ultimately costing us jobs and losing us money. This is an issue for the entire country but recent experiences in Galway have certainly led us to the conclusion that the system is well and truly broken.

Prior to that we had a long saga of efforts to solve Galway city's crippling traffic problems frustrated by planning difficulties that lasted for decades. Something in the region of €14 million was spent on previous plans to build an outer bypass of the city, all of which proved to be money down the drain because it got nowhere. The current N6 ring road project will have countless more millions spent on it with no guarantee that we will get the right decision and a road built. This issue is causing massive headaches for road users in Galway and also for homeowners who cannot sell their houses and landowners who are being affected by the current plans.

The most recent fiasco relates to Galway Hospice being refused planning permission for a brand new facility on the grounds of Merlin Park Hospital. This is a much-needed facility for which there is massive public support in Galway. It was granted planning permission by Galway City Council. That was appealed to An Bord Pleanála and an inspector recommended that it be granted.

However, in one of those curious decisions, the board of the planning authority ignored the inspectors' advice and refused the permission. When will there be a major overhaul of our planning laws to eliminate costly delays? The refusal of planning permission for these projects is costing companies millions of euro and charitable organisations, such as the Galway Hospice, thousands of euro, money which was raised through fundraising by hard-working people in Galway. It is costing the Government and the taxpayer millions of euro trying to get projects through the system.

The system is broken and not working. There has to be a complete review of the entire planning system to make it easier to get planning permission. I am not calling for a free-for-all. However, there has to be a simpler system for getting planning permission, one which would not result in millions of euro being spent only for permission not to be granted at the end of the day. The old system is giving Ireland, and certainly Galway, a bad name. First, there was the city bypass which should have been built by now. Then there was the Apple centre which should be open by now. Now we have a situation with the Galway Hospice. This will have a negative effect on inward investment. It already has with Apple.

Will the Taoiseach give a commitment, as a matter of urgency, that there will be a major overhaul of the planning system?

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