Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a serious problem with serial objectors, particularly in respect of one-off housing planning applications. People who apply to build a one-off house have to go to great lengths to prove their "intrinsic links" to an area. Most of these applications are made in rural areas but some are made in rural towns. Objectors can be from any corner of Ireland or even from outside the State. They can place a legitimate negative statement or objection on file without having to prove the planning application will affect them in any way. This is akin to giving guns to the inmates. Why give someone with no links to the area the right to object to young people starting out in life with their hopes and dreams of a family and the security of their local area? I call on the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to address the House in this regard. There is a serious imbalance in the planning process which must be addressed.