Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)

Last week, An Bord Pleanála overturned a decision by Mayo County Council to grant permission for 92 homes in Ballina, north Mayo. An Bord Pleanála overturned the decision and rejected this development. The site was dezoned in recent years. It is located just 2 km from the town centre and has all the necessary services, including water, wastewater, telecommunications, footpaths, etc. There is a huge demand for housing in Ballina. The board cited preserving agricultural land and housing targets in its decision. The board has chosen bureaucratic rigidity over people. It has chosen policy over people, preferring cows to couples in search of a home. It is incredible that this development was refused on the basis of potentially exceeding housing targets when housing delivery is on the floor in Ballina and across Mayo.

The rhetoric of the Government in terms of urgency and delivery is not felt on the ground. Will the Tánaiste come to Ballina? Will he engage with the planners at Mayo County Council, the developer and the engineer to see what is happening on the ground? There is no urgency in housing delivery across State agencies.

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