Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

Senator Alex White stated there are four circumstances where planning can be refused and he wants a fifth. The fifth one is included in section 35 of the principal Act, and it is clear. The existing grounds for refusal are the applicant has substantially failed to comply with a previous permission. That is the fifth one. How it is implemented by the local authority is what the development management guidelines are about, and that is the reason we issue them.

It is a matter for local authorities to stick to the guidelines, and cover the local authority and the public, when they give planning permission and, subsequently, put a bond in place. The bond should be adequate and substantial enough to carry out the works that are left unfinished if that be the case. That is the position on the matter.