Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a serious problem with serial objectors to the granting of planning permission, particularly for one-off houses. People who apply to build one-off houses have to go to great lengths to prove they have intrinsic links to the area. They are hoping to build in rural areas and in some towns but objectors can come from any corner of Ireland or even outside the State. There are no hard and fast criteria for them to make an objection or to be required to put a statement on the file. Why should someone with no links to an area have the right to object to young people starting out in their lives who are hoping to build a family home and have security for the future? A suitable amendment could be made to some of the incoming Bills from the Minister of State's Department, of which quite a number are going through the Houses. That would reintroduce some balance in the planning process. It is very unevenly keeled towards people with no direct involvement or link to an area. It is crazy what some people can get away with and how we protect them under legislation.