Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue of public representatives having the right to make a submission is an important one. The word "submission" is important. It is not an objection. The person could be in support of the planning application or he or she could think it needs to be amended or, in some cases, that there should be a dramatic change to the planning permission. That core function is very important for public representatives, whether one is a Deputy, Senator or councillor, and it is something we need to promote. Councillors feel under pressure in some regards to make a submission. That is one thing of which we should be aware. The other important point is that the financial implications of making submissions are quite onerous on a member of a local authority in particular if one is charged €20 every time one makes an observation on a planning application. That is one issue we must examine.

I raised the issue with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Minister of State, Deputy English, and there is scope for something to be done for councillors and public representatives so that, when they want to use their democratic mandate, they will have the opportunity to do so without it impinging on them financially. It is one of those issues we need to examine, but there are two aspects to it. I do not want a situation to arise where councillors feel obligated to make a submission because the fee is gone. The other side of the coin is those who want to make a submission. I have made many submissions in my day that such people should not be penalised financially for so doing. This is one of the issues we must examine. I am broadly in support of the amendment because, on average, most councillors want to use that power but it does not make sense for them financially to do so.