Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I would like local authorities to grant permission for designs that accommodate and complement an area, not dominate it. We are not into the latter, as the Senator knows better than I. Having said that, it is a golden opportunity to allow the countryside to develop and have vibrant communities up and running again. I welcome that the Minister has taken this view on board.

The Minister must tidy up the area of charges but I do not know how he will get that right. He is trying to do so and is entering into discussions. The Minister should say that for any large application for 300 or 400 houses in an area, if the snag list is not addressed within six months of the estate's completion, the financial charge on the developer should be increased. If the developer does not address the situation, the Minister has enough resources and personnel for the estate to be finished by the local authority. We are well aware that this issue has not been tidied up.

I also wish to refer to stakeholders in the national spatial strategy and how they work. I am referring to, for example, sections within local authorities such as those dealing with roads and planning. It is often the case that the planning section is in favour of the granting of permission but the roads section is against, as the building in question might be too near a corner. We have not got this matter right either. We have come a long way but there should be more transparency and openness. Planning applications should be streamlined so that people feel comfortable presenting at the planning office and interacting with the staff, who should understand and empathise with the applicant, particularly in the case of one-off housing. People are often apprehensive and they approach their local representative to assist them in filling out the application form and to support them through the process. People are concerned they will be associated with the bad press that exists in regard to this matter if they submit an application for one-off housing or 300 houses. We must build goodwill between planners, the public and the applicant.

Much good work has been done. The draft guidelines have been published and the Minister has undertaken the consultation process. Perhaps he will take on board the points made today.

I never know the difference between the guidelines and the regulations. I thought these were all the same but they are not. There is too much confusion between planning laws, regulations, guidelines and by-laws and these should be tidied up.