Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to acknowledge, as have many Members, the efforts made by communities in regard to the recent storm. Public services such as the Garda Síochána, Civil Defence and medical services did a fantastic job but in many ways communities rallied together to ensure older or younger people were safe, which must be acknowledged. I particularly acknowledge the farming community for clearing the roads. In my part of the world, there was snow of up to 2 m in depth and we would be still entrenched in it were it not for the farming community becoming involved.

I wish to raise what is a very important issue in Cork, which is going through a major process of the consideration of an extension of the city boundary. We have also had the 2020 vision for Ireland and must consider what it is we want for Cork. However, the lack of joined-up thinking between the two local authorities in Cork is a major issue which has again been highlighted in publications in the past week in respect of a planning application for a major development in a county council local authority area that is being processed through the strategic housing development route to An Bord Pleanála and to which the city council has lodged a four-page objection. Where is the joined-up thinking? What is the future for Cork if one local authority is objecting to an application for planning permission in another local authority area? This development of more than 600 units is badly needed in that area and has been put forward for strategic funding for social housing by the Government, yet the local authorities are playing petty politics, which is inappropriate. Local authorities in Cork need to work together rather than object to each other's proposals. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has no issue with the development but the city council is objecting to its planning permission. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, must get involved in such issues in Cork and ensure he knocks heads together in order to avoid situations such as this, where one local authority is objecting to planning permission in another local authority area. Action is required. In many ways, it is important that the Minister should intervene so that something can be sorted out in this scenario.