Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would imagine that concerns the process, rather than the decision. I am concerned, as somebody who lives in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, an area that is 5 miles wide and 8 miles long and where, as the Minister pointed out, the average house price is €200,000 more than the next highest average house price of any of the other 30 local authorities in Ireland.

I am not sure that if there is a problem in local authorities that An Bord Pleanála is the answer. The Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, has made some points on the same proposal. I welcome many other aspects of the Bill, such as student accommodation, which is a very useful and helpful provision. Other issues to do with landlords, tenants and vacant or non-vacant possession are good ideas. I wonder whether councils are the problem.

I accept An Bord Pleanála will be ramped up and additional staff will be brought in. In the short time between 2017 and 2019 for the fast-track process, it will be very difficult for it to ramp up and gain the experience of 31 different local authorities. I equally accept and acknowledge that not many local authorities will be dealing with developments comprising over 100 units. I would imagine the four Dublin local authorities, and probably those in Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Cork, Galway, Waterford and perhaps Limerick would be affected. I see other Senators are nodding, so I think I may be correct in thinking that. I acknowledge there are some very good officials in the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

While we talk about empowering local government, planning has always been an executive function and should remain so. The last thing any councillor wants to be doing is granting planning permission for attic conversions, gate widenings, garage conversions, extensions and so on. However, the AILG has made five points. The general local authority planning function involves local authorities dealing with planning applications and An Bord Pleanála is the appeals process. The centralisation of the planning function to one body goes contrary to the view that we devolve power to local government. Instead, we are centralising applications to one body based in Marlborough Street. I am not sure how the process of being able to view plans will play out. Will they be available to view in local authority offices? Will they still come to area committees or municipal districts for planning, discussion and consultation so that members can have an input? While members do not make decisions, they have an in-depth knowledge of the process. They were elected by the people of their area, for all parties and none, and have a great knowledge of their local areas. I would be concerned that their knowledge would not be used. I understand planning permission was refused in 2005 for a building in Sandyford. The application sat with An Bord Pleanála for about four years and it kept deferring the application. I wonder how fast we can get enough extra planning staff to deal with the work of 31 local authorities in a planning facility within An Bord Pleanála, presumably in Marlborough Street or the general area. I acknowledge not all planning will involve 100 units. Would it be better to ramp up the appeals process or shorten the time period for dealing with planning applications?

I refer to public engagement. It is relatively easy for people to visit local authorities, deal with them, make submissions and so on. I am concerned that it will be much harder for people to deal with the planning process if it moves to a centralised location in Dublin.

Our party will support the Bill, as will I because that is our party position. I have concerns about the proposal regarding plans for developments of the 100 units or more, which I would like the Minister to bear in mind.