Results 1,101-1,120 of 2,262 for speaker:John Cummins
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: All of us here are acutely aware of the challenges experienced by those who seek planning permission for whatever purpose. We are aware of the challenges that exist at An Bord Pleanála regarding decision-making and some of the stats that have been provided to us. The decision making within the statutory time period has dropped from what I think was an already 57% rate to 45% in 2022....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: A priority focus needs to be put on developments that are going to the board in terms of housing. One can put a number on it, one can say housing developments of X number of units must get priority. There are the normal circumstances versus the circumstances that we are in with An Bord Pleanála now. We are addressing the staffing concerns. This legislation is for the next 20 years,...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: What is the time on that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: It will be published before the end of March.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: For that to be in force by-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: When is it expected it will be finalised? I am acutely conscious that a delay may mean people will hold back and not make applications because they are awaiting the results of the Bill and density guidelines. That is something none of us wants to see. There may be a continuous drop in planning applications until that is done. Expediency is very important.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: When will it be finalised?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: I will hold them to that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: I am next.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: I thought I had another few minutes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: I will address the move to a ten-year development plan process with a five-year review. We teased out some of that but that change will require a significant additional land bank to be zoned for various purposes. What is the thinking of the Department in that regard? Has that discussion been had with the regulator? The officials will be aware that some local authority members take the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: I agree with that. I gather from Mr. Hogan's response that he does not envisage extra land being zoned?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: I appreciate the importance of brownfield sites in that context, and I am a big proponent of that. Waterford is a prime example if we look at the north quays, where such a site is being activated. There is also a role for greenfield zoning.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: That is the context in which the question is being framed. Mr. Hogan is cognisant of that fact, but the reality is that there will be some speculation in that sphere that additional land will be zoned because of the longer term development plan process.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: We touched on this briefly before the public session started in the context of the overview of the draft Bill. If I could move on to section 257, which relates to protected structures and the desire to make it easier to bring such structures back into use for residential purposes. I will again use my area as an example because it is what I know best. We have utilised schemes, such as the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: There has been some discussion about exempted development. I used the example of buildings that were formerly pubs. The draft legislation provides for the Minister to make regulation, which is what was done previously in this regard. Is it the intention that all of the existing regulations permitting exempted development will remain in place? The Department has a significant body of work...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: Section 6 relates to short-term lettings, specifically properties within RPZs. Has consideration been given to amending any of these provisions or will the section remain as it stands?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: There is no intention to further amend it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: I may have missed it in the 738 pages but while the Bill seems to refer to the public rights of way, I did not see anything about extinguishing public rights of way. This can be contentious, particularly where opening up a public right of way between two estates may be a planning condition. There may be antisocial behaviour attached to that or there may be a petition on both sides on...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)
John Cummins: If that is not included, it is obviously an omission. There is a process currently-----