Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the many Senators, including Senator Boyhan, for their contributions on the subject of these amendments, specifically the role of the elected members in the new procedures for large scale housing developments. There was extensive debate on the issue in this House last week, which the Minister and I as well as our officials have listened to carefully.

The Minister indicated last week that he is favourably disposed to the general principle raised in the discussions last week, which is to provide a mechanism for the elected members to be informed of proposed large scale housing developments at an early stage in the process and to have an opportunity to express their views on such developments. In light of the detailed discussions, the Minister accepted Senator Boyhan’s Committee Stage amendment, which provided that the planning authority would notify and inform the elected members at a council meeting of any proposed housing developments in their area. In case the Senator missed it, the Minister did accept his amendment last week.

However, while accepting Senator Boyhan’s amendment last week, the Minister also reserved the right to revise the wording of the Senator’s amendment and to potentially go further and to enable the views of the elected members on any such developments to be reflected in the chief executive’s report on a proposed development to the board. This would enhance the involvement of elected members in the new procedures, giving them an opportunity to input into the process and to represent the views of their constituents in accordance with their democratic mandate. This is the essence of what I am proposing in amendments Nos. 8 to 10.

In summary, amendment No. 8 provides that, as soon as a strategic housing development application is received by the board, the planning authority shall notify the elected members of the relevant local area committee or municipal district. At the next meeting of the relevant area committee or municipal district, the planning authority will then inform the elected members of the detail of the proposed application, including details on the pre-application consultations with the planning authority held under section 247 and, if available, information on the submissions and observations received from the public during the public consultation part of the procedures. The local area committee or municipal district meeting will also be informed if the chief executive has formed a view on the proposed development. If the meeting of the local area committee or municipal district is held before the deadline for the submission of observations on the proposed development to An Bord Pleanála, it will also be open to elected members to separately and independently submit their views on the proposed development to the Board.

Amendment No. 9 provides that the chief executive will include a summary of the views of the relevant elected members on the proposed development as outlined at a meeting of an area committee or municipal district. Amendment No. 10 removes the previously accepted amendment by Senator Boyhan as it is now overtaken by the enhanced provisions contained in amendments Nos. 8 and 9.

Therefore, I am proposing amendments No. 8 to 10 are passed but both my officials and I are willing to listen further to the views of Senators on this particular aspect of the proposed provisions. The amendment that was proposed earlier was accepted, but it has been made stronger.