Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

One can see the results of bad planning decisions up and down the county, with buildings on flood plains and so on. The only recourse of the citizen, as has been eloquently pointed out by Senator Boyhan, is the local elected representative, who will give an account of what has happened. The public will let the councillors know at the next elections whom they felt let them down or worked on their behalf. Unknowingly, the Minister put his finger on the nub of the issue a couple of minutes ago, when he said this is not a devolution of power. The Bill is not about devolution of power but the recentralisation of power. He is taking the power from the people and their local councillors and giving it to a body, An Bord Pleanála. I have discussed the issue ad nauseamat this stage. I do not see the logic of it. The Minister is taking the process from the local authority to An Bord Pleanála, without making it democratically accountable. We are then looking at democratic redress through the courts. The Minister has not stood up the case he is making for this change, based on delays or otherwise to any great degree.

In response to my question, the Minister spoke about the 78 weeks it takes for a planning decision, but he still has not given reasons that this new process will make it better. The Minister said that practically every large development was appealed to An Bord Pleanála, but that is not the case. The records show that is not the case.