Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply on the specific question around websites, which was very encouraging. The websites worked very well when it came to SHDs, but there were some shortfalls. Part of that is the search engine optimisation issue. If one sits down and googles "Palmerstown + SHD" or "Lucan + SHD", one cannot automatically find the planning website for which one is looking. It is great that the Minister will now be introducing this requirement through regulation. Can he make sure those regulations, or the guidance around them, are strong enough for people who are searching for these things online to come across them easily? Can he ensure that there are some diktats around what is required to be included in the website? I suggest that there should be an obvious reference number or a very easy link to the local authority website or the An Bord Pleanála website. People and residents associations may need to be signposted towards certain resources to help them to make thorough and comprehensive submissions. That is really at the heart of this.

It is very important that we take what has worked from the SHD process. Unfortunately, there have not been that many benefits to it. However, it is important we lift and shift what has worked from the SHD process and make sure it works in this process. We must we use this as an opportunity to improve the planning system and make sure that the websites are thorough, that all the information is on them for people and, most importantly, that they are easily accessible to people and easily searchable.

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