Results 20,721-20,740 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: That is helpful. If we take the half-sentence that the Deputies are looking to delete, we might say that is okay in isolation, but we have to read what comes before it, particularly in regard to “appropriate architectural urban design and quality standards into development plans”. It is correct that a certain consistency and standards are needed, and it provides for that...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: That is understood.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is to allow and ensure, as is set down here, that the national planning statements, whatever they are, are actually followed in real terms. Why would we not allow an assessment? We are not talking about going into a live planning application. Let us say a local authority, for argument’s sake-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It may be used potentially as an example once it is done, but we are trying to provide certainty and consistency across the system. Basically, we are allowing an assessment to ensure something is done in line with the national planning statement. What could be wrong with that? What would happen if we deleted it? It is to ensure there is consistency of process.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Genuinely, I wanted to get an understanding of where the Deputies are coming from but I think it is wrong to remove that. Deputy Ó Broin spoke about just leaving that piece with local government. The planning authorities will deal with the planning applications and their development plans. This is around the process of the national planning statements to make sure they are not just...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Let me give an-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I know who they are.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It does not reach into the planning decision in any way. Let me give the example of ensuring the integration of design and quality standards. An assessment of an application will be allowed. I would not expect that often, but the provision is required. It does not reach into the decision-making process in any shape or form. It is about setting out the national planning statements...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Can I explain it?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I will explain it because, in fairness, when the amendment was submitted, I asked Deputies to explain the rationale behind it. This gives guidance to the planner. This is not guidance to the Minister. The national planning statement is issued and this is basically about absolute clarity, certainty and consistency and does not reach into the planner's decision-making role in any way. When...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand what the Deputy is saying and I respectfully disagree with the Irish Planning Institute on this. What this is about is putting down the steps that need to be taken by a planner in the process of assessing an application for consent. Basically, any application must be assessed vis-à-vis "the integration of appropriate architectural urban design...priority area plans,...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Let us take the example of the national quality standards for building. Are we saying that we are not outlining to planners that they be taken into account or assessed? That is all this section is saying. If people are trying to make the case - and I am not saying that the Deputy is doing this - that we are trying to remove discretion regarding the type of design or what is appropriate in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have nothing more to say on the amendment.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: A national planning statement could have a positive impact on any development plan that is out there. It will guide the decisions that are made by the planners, not just on the development plan itself, the written statement and the objectives within it. It is a living thing. It is not just that there is a national planning statement and it takes effect from next year. A national planning...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Absolutely not. It does not reach into the decisions that they make. As I have explained and as we have discussed here, it ensures that there is an assessment of what the national policy is and whether it is consistent with that. Getting into whether or how one building blends into another or what site should be used with the other, is led by the development plan and the decisions made by...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The development plan would not include design standards or quality standards.