Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I support the calls for a debate on planning issues in rural areas. When discussing the Planning and Development Act 2001 and the role of An Bord Pleanála, we should look at the objections to planning applications by holiday home owners. In Donegal, houses for members of the indigenous community have faced objections from those who own holiday homes. If those people want to object, they should have to pay at least €5,000, not €20 as is the case at present. That may require a change in EU law but the Government should pursue that.

The four HSE regional fora have a critically important role to play in representing the views of local communities. There are 148 members who represent local communities and the chairmen and vice chairmen should be paid an allowance similar to that paid by regional authorities to their chairs.