Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, along with other colleagues who are present. The manner in which these amendments have been brought before us at such short notice, with the use of the guillotine procedure, is another insight into the state of the Government. I am involved in a lot of planning in County Limerick. The granting of planning permissions in the county is being held up by serial objectors. There is also a lack of clarity in the process.

Businesses that have put structures on their premises during the pandemic still have not get clarification as to whether they are exempt even though special circumstances pertained. SMEs and other companies that put up solar panels to bring down their electricity costs still do not have clarity on the size of array they may have. On the lack of infrastructure, local development plans now specify that there will only be development in areas where there is infrastructure. That wipes out two thirds of County Limerick because the infrastructure in the county is at its maximum capacity. Under the new housing regime, the Land Development Agency is only going to build in Limerick city and in towns and villages that are within 15 minutes of it because of transport issues. This again takes out two thirds of Limerick. There has been a massive surge of planning permissions in County Limerick but no houses are being built because of cost inflation and the lack of builders. Planning permission should be granted to any person who wants to return to their home locality whether on a site they own or within their home town or village. It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure the infrastructure is in place to allow people to return home. That is how planning permission should operate to ensure the future of the people of Ireland.

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