Results 1,761-1,780 of 6,904 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

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

Cian O'Callaghan: No, I am referring to section 20(3).

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

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister.

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

Cian O'Callaghan: I support the amendment, which is very good. As set out in the legislation, national planning statements are going to be significant. They will have huge influence in our planning system and be far-reaching. To have Oireachtas involvement, scrutiny and democratic input is very important. It is also important to get democratic buy-in. We are seeing in what is happening in planning now...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: In response to the points I made, the Minister stated they were matters for the development plan. I do not agree. While these issues could of course be covered in a development plan, they are also issues that are covered in the guidelines issued around apartment sizes, heights, densities and design. I have not heard anything from the Minister to suggest the national planning statements and...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: Also talking about this section, similarly I think it should run through the entire thing and the national planning framework. Depending on the Minister's response I may wish to return to this on Report Stage. It is noticeable in the legislation that under the national planning framework, there is a range of different issues listed. They are all very important and relevant but missing from...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: I appreciate that section 219 -----

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

Cian O'Callaghan: No. I appreciate how that Part of the Bill interacts with other legislation, but my point is not just about what is now Part V social housing or Part V affordable housing. My point is that a key objective of the planning system in its totality should be about making sure housing is delivered at rates that are affordable. That should be a key aim in the entire planning system. Going back...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: The proposed new subsection (6) in amendment No. 181 relates to a communications strategy. This is a really good proposal. These kinds of changes take place and people just do not know about them. One of the frustrations relating to changes in planning rules or around public consultation is that people do not know about what is happening. I ask the Minister to address that point. The...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: I do not think this is a stand-alone amendment. It states: "In page 65, line 28, after "archaeological" to insert ", historic"." Section 24(1)(i) would then read, "protection of landscapes, and features of natural, archaeological, historic, architectural and cultural heritage of value;". We are suggesting the insertion of one word. The Minister might ask why we would want to have that one...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: Section 24, on considerations for the issuance of a national planning statement, gives the Minister the power to set out the policy in a wide range of areas, including height and density. Section 24(1)(n) gives the Minister power to issue national planning statements that effectively tell planners how to assess planning applications, especially concerning the integration of architectural and...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: If that is not the case, I want to hear from the Minister on it. When we had a discussion on planning in Gaeltacht communities, the Minister strongly made the point that he did not want to accept our amendments because he felt they would result in a national framework for making more housing available for Irish-language speakers and Gaeltacht communities. He stated each area was unique and...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: The Minister has said that he has nothing more to say on this but I hope he will respond.

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

Cian O'Callaghan: I hope that the Minister will respond. During pre-legislative scrutiny when we had briefings with the Department, one of the consistent messages coming through was that there was a wish to ensure consistency between development plans and what were then the ministerial guidelines or SPPRs. As Deputy Ó Broin said, there has been a lot of litigation, conflict and judicial reviews around...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: In light of the way this is worded, is there not potential for continued conflicts between development plans and national planning statements and that this would give rise to disputes, litigation, etc.? The development plan could say something about design standards or layouts. Subsequently, a national planning statement may be issued. Under this Bill, it will take time for the development...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: It could refer to areas to which the national planning statements have not referred to date. What is allowed for under section 24 is not limited to these areas. If one reads from paragraphs (a) to (o), one can see that what is provided for is wide-ranging. There are areas there that may not be currently covered by national planning statements. The development plans could include...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: That was the nub of my question, which was about the time lag following the issuing of a national planning statement and the steps that may be taken under section 59 to ensure material consistency with national planning statements. I am concerned that there could be, during that time lag or gap, conflicts between the development plan and the national planning statements. My concern is in...

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

Cian O'Callaghan: I am asking questions in order to try to understand this. I am also trying to get the Minister's explanation as to what is proposed. He says that I am proposing X, Y and Y, but I am not. So we are clear, I am asking questions because I am seeking clarity. How are there not potential conflicts?