Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to call for an urgent debate on planning permission and related issues. For instance, people were granted planning permission almost five years but it is about to run out. What if they must reapply even though their local authorities are concerned and disagree with the permission that was granted to them four and half years ago? I am talking about continuing on because there are better times on the way and new houses will be built again.

I call for a debate on planning. I cannot understand the attitude adopted by local authorities to unauthorised developments which were built without permission and over a few weekends. In such cases the local authorities have refused permission and owners must reapply. Then An Bord Pleanála says "No" because the site was unauthorised, it was an unsuitable location so the development must be knocked down. Some of those buildings still stand after five and ten years. There is one instance in my county where such a building has been in existence for 15 years. It has not been demolished despite decisions being made by the local authority and An Bord Pleanála.

I call for an urgent debate on planning. Why do such cases take so long? Why can individuals ignore decisions made by An Bord Pleanála yet go through the courts and reapply? There is an issue whereby people living 200 miles away can object to planning permission. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister to attend here to debate the matter.