Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senator Buttimer and support everything he has called for. I also acknowledge An Post. I do not know if anyone saw them as they were coming in this morning, but some of its letterboxes have been decorated in the rainbow. It is imaginative and it is great when big organisations embrace Gay Pride, diversity and respect for everyone. That has to come from the centre of corporations and the political houses because that is where leadership is important.

I raise the issue of An Bord Pleanála. There was much coverage of housing in the national press over the weekend and, indeed, at the Leader's own Ard-Fheis. There was also very important coverage in the national press yesterday about strategic housing developments and how over 60,000 houses are now caught up in some sort of legal jam or controversy. Much of this stems from strategic housing developments. I personally have no difficulty with people objecting and I have always stated that I am against strategic development housing because it bypasses citizens, local politicians and councils by allowing big developments in excess of 101 units to go to An Bord Pleanála. That is not good and is in breach of the Aarhus Convention. I note that, based on the social media of people of all political persuasions in this House and in local councils, they are frustrated by it. This issue was part of the Government formation negotiations. The Green Party has worked very hard in this area and I acknowledge that. The time has come to have absolute clarity. When is this practice going to stop? It has to stop at some point. We should of course allow planning applications to go to the planning authorities in the first instance. We are talking about empowering local government and local communities and it is important that decisions be made at that point. They could be appealed to the board after that but currently, nobody can object to those applications. There is no third-party appeal for strategic housing developments. It is crazy.Previously, a person could make a submission to a local authority. If the person was not satisfied after that, he or she could appeal it to An Bord Pleanála.

This is clearly a difficult issue. An Bord Pleanála is overwhelmed by the situation. It is disheartening that, since 2017, the board has lost 80% of the judicial reviews lodged against it. It has been subject to 33 completed judicial reviews since the strategic housing development, SHD, track was launched, of which 14 were conceded without a hearing and 15 were conceded following court hearings and judgments.

I am asking for a debate on the matter at some stage, for the Government to set a date by which we will end the SHD process and for more resources for planners in An Bord Pleanála and our local authorities.