Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his willingness to engage with this constructive amendment. I think it has been constructively taken. The amendment is clearly designed to deal with the concerns we raised earlier in regard to speculation, ensuring that where speedy planning permission has been granted, we do not see a significant number of applications being granted and then house building being drip fed over a long period. Our amendment would ensure that those who seek planning permission under this new process will be those who intend to follow through and build. It would facilitate a managed return to a normal and full length planning process in the future. We do not want to see planning applications for buildings in the next five to 30 years going through a process without the level of scrutiny that would obtain in normal circumstances and become the new blueprint for planning in Ireland.

It would be very positive if the Minister were to work with us to see how this amendment might be fine-tuned in order to ensure that all those who get planning permission under the process set out in this Bill will follow through and build within five years and not seek extensions, except where the building plans are substantially completed. We had thought that was covered already in terms of where plans had met the conditions set out in section 42 (1)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000. That was an attempt by us to ensure the extension could be granted where there was a question of substantial completion. We are happy to work with the Minister to fine-tune that and ensure the Government feels able to accept this amendment on Report Stage.