Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While I understand the aim of this legislation, I have concerns about such important legislation being rushed through the Houses. I am aware members of the housing committee received a briefing on the general scheme. It was agreed at the committee that it would write to organisations such as the Irish Planning Institute to seek expert advice on the measures proposed in the Bill. I would like to know if this has happened and what the results were.

This is not a good way to legislate. We in Sinn Féin like to discuss upcoming legislation with those who are affected by it. The short turnaround has made this difficult. The Bill's purpose is to mitigate the disruption caused by Covid-19-related delays. Sections 2 to 6 provide additional time for the preparation of county development plans. I was not aware of any local authorities having asked for extra time to prepare their development plan but the Minister said some have done so.

Kildare County Council had a meeting this morning to progress its own plan and it seems it is business as usual. I am especially concerned about the extension of planning permissions or more specifically about the blanket extension. I have sympathy with regard to the time lost due to Covid-19 and the associated public health restrictions but blanket extensions are not the way to go. We will have planning permissions extended for developments which may be found to be out of kilter with new country development plans and the national planning framework.

I would much prefer to see extensions granted on a case-by-case basis, having regard to the number of months lost due to the shutdown of construction. I have a concern that blanket extensions to existing planning permissions, some of which will have been in place for more than ten years, will lead to planning hoarding. Councillors in County Kildare were yesterday told that between 2014 and 2020, permission was granted for almost 18,000 housing units. In the same period, just over 7,000 housing units were completed.

While there may be a large number in construction, when one looks at the detail, there is compelling evidence planning hoarding is going on. This Bill will contribute to that and it needs to be addressed, as a matter of urgency.

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