Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 7, after line 38, to insert the following:“(6) A permission granted under this Part may only be extended where it meets the conditions in section 42(1)(a)(i) of the Act of 2000 as amended.”.

The point of this amendment is to restrict the possibility of the extension of fast-track permission. The original provision for extending planning permission was that substantial work must be carried out on foot of the permission. Separate weaker criteria for the extension of permissions were introduced as a result of the bursting of the housing bubble to enable permissions to be held until economic conditions changed. There is no justification for allowing a fast-track permission to be held in reserve for years and years. This is a use it or lose it amendment. If we are serious about providing housing, planning permissions need to be acted on and not held back.