Seanad debates

Tuesday, 10 December 2002

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage.

 

I welcome the removal of the withering clause and the introduction of the new levy. Again, however, think of the responsibilities placed on local authorities in deciding whether a development is already up to the level required. There is a policing role involved, and we all know that local authorities are already stretched. It will not be easy for them. Planning, as we all know too well, has unfortunately become more and more restrictive. In rural Ireland the situation is very difficult in terms of one-off houses. It is unconstitutional what some local authorities are doing in insisting that people have to be from a particular place or county or must reside there. We have the utmost sympathy for those who come from the land, obtain a site from their mother or father and wish to build on their own land. All of these issues have to be overcome. There are ways of screening and using stone. One does not have to mar the beauty of the countryside.

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