Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I can understand part of the response the Minister made to Senator Norris. The Minister is quite right. There is a preplanning application procedure within the legislation. Dublin City Council carries out preplanning application procedures prior to granting full planning permission so as to advise a future planning application. This also allows residents and the local community, where there is a site, to have a preplanning consultation prior to a planning application, which gives them an input into how they would see that site being developed in terms of a development or area plan.

While the precise wording of Senator Norris's amendment may not be correct, the good intention is there in terms of making it easier for local communities to have an input into and an influence on their living standards in terms of planning applications. Normally, what we would have done, had this not been guillotined with the assistance of Fianna Fáil or the House, is that we would have referred back to Report Stage to see whether we could have amended this to make it functional. Maybe the Minister might take a minute to think if there is a way or if there is a slight amendment that he or his officials could see to make this workable.