Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This morning, I want to raise the issue of Bord Pleanála, where it fits into the hierarchy of planning permission, and applications for planning permissions it has granted or refused in recent months and years. In the past 48 hours, planning permission for a waste plastics factory in Skibbereen has been granted by the board. The inspector's report opposed the project, but the board granted permission. That seems to be the way in which An Bord Pleanála has been doing its business of late. If one looks at other planning permissions regarding solar farms and an incinerator in Cork Harbour, one will see the same process. The independent inspector goes through the project, examines it, probably holds an oral hearing, compiles a report and then makes a recommendation to the board, which is ignored before it grants permission. It is an issue that needs to be examined. A judicial review of decisions of An Bord Pleanála can be requested, but is an audit conducted of its decisions? Is there an independent planning inspectorate that steps back and examines how the board deals with these issues? There is an issue here, particularly in respect of environmental projects, which can involve jobs and employment on one side and environmental issues on the other. The board seems to lean towards regarding the potential for jobs as more valuable than the environment. We have seen that with an incinerator and with solar farms and now we are seeing it with the plastics factory in Skibbereen. It is an issue at which we need to look. I call for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to be brought to the House to discuss the planning affairs of the State to see what can be done to ensure that the decisions made are appropriate and, if not, to see what can be done to ensure applicants do not have to go through the expensive process of a judicial review. It is an issue which has to be raised and on which change is needed.