Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will speak to amendment No. 6 in the names of Deputies Ó Broin and Cian O'Callaghan. The important thing is that we have all accepted the need to move online in these particular circumstances. It does, however, create difficulties for many people. I believe that is a fair point to make. We need to ensure that effective public participation is provided for. At this time, a number of local authorities, including Louth County Council, are drawing up development plans. Given the circumstances with regard to planning, there has been a great deal of change. I know the Minister has made a decision in this regard but I ask for some leeway and that he would come back to me on the issue. Local authorities are currently attempting to draw up development plans and are attempting to get as many people as possible involved in that process. A great amount of change is happening. There are specific issues with regard to zoning in north County Louth. It is becoming far more difficult for local people to get permission to build houses. We need to allow for a full public conversation in this regard. Submissions on the development plan need to be in by 23 December. I believe that will be a problem and I will seek an extension, if possible.

More widely, if we are talking about sustaining rural Ireland, we have to allow for areas to be able to sustain populations, schools, football teams and all of the other things that make up a community. We need to offer solutions to those living in these townlands and areas. It is difficult at this time as all they are getting are prohibitions. I accept that there is a need for careful planning and for constraints, but we need sensible solutions. Given the pandemic, it is very difficult to have that conversation at this time.

I am also aware of the workshop Meath County Council ran regarding its development plan, which Deputy O'Rourke mentioned earlier. There was an issue and a problem. Somebody complained about the lack of compliance with Covid measures. That shows the difficulties that arise as people try to tease out all of these scenarios. I call for complete support for amendment No. 6 but I also ask that the Minister look into some sort of delay as regards the development plan. Perhaps we could wait for the national development plan, which I believe is to be finalised in the second quarter of 2021. That holistic conversation could then feed into our local conversations.

We need to give people in rural areas, particularly on the Cooley Peninsula, the opportunity and ability to live in those areas. If we do not, we will literally kill off these communities and that is not good enough. I do accept that the full services available in towns cannot be provided down every bóithrín and side road but we do need a sensible solution which allows people to live in the areas in which they grew up and in which some have land. The constraints on very large amounts of lands are such that they will only be of benefit to someone who has an interest in farming. I again call for support for amendment No. 6, but I also ask that the Minister reconsider this matter.

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