Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have to, and do, understand the distinction between pre-planning and planning. We also discussed this in committee. A lot of pre-planning does not go to planning. Deputies have referenced that when looking at large planning files and trying to track changes throughout, it can be complex. We have to figure out the best way to do this. There is something in the PPN piece. I could not accept Deputy Pringle's amendment because it is not defined. Phrases such as "Community Organisation'", "in the locality" are far too loose. Legislation cannot be drafted like that and, therefore, the amendment will not be accepted.

The principle is a different issue. We are making pre-planning transparent now. It is not just the opinion; it is the minutes of the meetings. When an application is lodged, they must be published. I would say to residents and the public that the best place to make an observation is at the formal planning stage. Observations, if we were able to get an opinion at pre-planning stage, would not necessarily have any weight. Deputies say they want a mechanism whereby local groups are recognised or informed of what is happening. That speaks to issues we want to do with regard to making this plan-led. I will examine this further, though not in this Bill, to see if there is something by way of regulation, potentially through the PPN, to allow for recognised groups on a development to be known about.

Deputy Higgins raised the issue of websites and so on. All the applications within them, to make sure they are searchable and so on, will be included in the regulations. Let us look at where we are going with this. We are bringing everything back to the local authority, we are making sure the pre-planning process when it gets to application stage and the application is lodged is absolutely transparent and that people know exactly what is there.

As Deputies have mentioned, these are LRDs. Such developments are not necessarily bad. Deputies were talking about the impact on communities but those impacts can be, and, in many instances, are, positive. Some people do not like change and that is something they will have to stand over. If we are to house the growing population we have and make sure our people have an opportunity to live in safe and secure housing at an affordable rate to purchase or rent, we need to build homes and, therefore, we need a planning system that is fit for purpose.

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