John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him and his officials for engaging with members of the Oireachtas joint committee on this Bill.I agree with the Minister that this Bill is urgent, that it is important that it is put through both Houses without delay and that we have a motion for earlier signature.

I will focus on sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of the Bill, which deal with the development plan process referenced by my two colleagues in their opening remarks. Setting a development plan is an integral part of every local authority but Covid has had an impact. I believe approximately 26 local authorities are in the process of carrying out their development plans and many of them have found it difficult despite Trojan efforts by councillors and the executives in local authorities who have really tried their utmost to engage with the public and among themselves regarding the development plan process. However, because of the remote nature, it has been extremely difficult. In my own county of Waterford, they had some very successful online engagement relating to the early stages of the development plan yet many councillors, who would have been meeting subsequent to that to take public feedback on board, found it difficult because they were unable to be in the same room and engage with each other and put forward amendments to what would be the ultimate draft. I know it is a possible extension of up to one year but might the Minister extend each section of the development plan process from hereon out or is it the case that he must decide from this point forward that he will extend it by three months and then it has the subsequent follow-on delay? Could the Minister clarify that?

I compliment the Minister and the fact that the power to do so is being given to local authority members and that it is not an executive function. That was a very important part with which all of us agree. In respect of section 7, I previously raised the extension of planning permissions with the Minister. I know his officials will agree that I was quite firm in the arguments I put forward regarding the necessity of having a longer period than the one year that was in the initial draft. The Minister knows that large developments are not like a tap. They cannot just be turned back on. I am particularly conscious of developments in the final stages of financing when Covid hit. One needs certainty to conclude financing and certainty was certainly not in abundance at that time so many of those large-scale developments are only now in the process of finalising their financing to get on site. This is what we want. We want more homes so it is very appropriate that we extend it to December 2023.

Could the Minister elaborate on substantial works and the consideration of what substantial works are? Substantial works for one development may differ from those relating to another. A large-scale apartment complex with several blocks requires underground car parking for the entire development. If the foundations have been dug out, all of the foundations and car parking have been put in and construction on three or four apartment blocks has started, I would consider this to be substantial works but the Minister might clarify that. I compliment the Minister for bringing this legislation forward. I look forward to engaging with him on subsequent Stages and getting this Bill passed as soon as possible.