Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not interested in who gets the credit for what here. This is an issue about responding to a genuine concern that has been outlined by many Members, particularly Senator Landy, who is not here now, to ensure that respect is given to local councillors in terms of ensuring that they know what is going on. He has just come into the Chamber.

One of the issues raised the last time we debated this was about the public having access to information on what is contained in planning applications. Currently, if a local authority is considering a planning application, any member of the public can ask for the file to see what is going on in their area. We are committed to ensuring that in any of these applications, if and when they go to An Bord Pleanála, the public will still be able to access the file to see what is going on because I understand the IT system that will allow people to do that online will not be in place for another six or eight months.In the meantime we will have to make sure that a file physically exists in local authorities, for the public to be able to see it, if they want to make an observation or objection to Bord Pleanála during the process. That is a separate issue and I do not wish to trigger another debate. I am happy to accept amendment No. 14.