Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I happily support the amendment. I also support the recommendations made by the AILG and LAMA regarding the Bill. The amendment ensures the adherence to the relevant development plan or local area plan is carried over from the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancy Act 2016, which established the SHD process and brought in the process for large-scale residential developments, LRDs. Noticeably absent is section 5(6) of the 2016 Act, which allows for the bypassing of this agreement. It is not appropriate to work outside the established development or local area plan. Many Senators understand the time and effort put into those plans by councillors to ensure the best outcome for the local area and prospective LRD applicants should be able to work within that framework.

The importance of development plans cannot be overstated. The High Court, in a recent judgment regarding Cork County Council, highlighted that such plans are the remit of the locally elected members and not centralised projects of the regulator or, indeed, the Minister. Councillors are well aware of the need for LRDs and would be more than happy to engage constructively with An Bord Pleanála or prospective applicants. Using local knowledge is imperative to ensure the LRDs are integrated sustainably into the environment from the perspective of public amenities, cultural spaces and social infrastructures.