Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Senator Boyhan. Amendment No. 15 is in the same vein as the previous amendment from the Independent Group. It would present the documents detailing an application for the LRD to the elected members of the local council. This will enable the members to have informed discussions regarding the LRD and the benefits it would bring to the area, as well as serving to highlight areas of possible concern. The considered views of local elected representatives must be present in any decision-making process whose outcome impacts local communities. This is especially the case when dealing with housing projects of the scale of LRDs.

To complement the previous amendment, amendment No. 16 incorporates the debate and discussion between local elected members into An Bord Pleanála’s opinion as to whether or not the documents submitted by the prospective applicant constitute a reasonable basis on which to make the application for permission for the proposed LRD. This inclusion accurately reflects the importance of such debate and it is fitting that discussions between councillors be included in the opinion.

These recommendations and amendments have been forwarded to us by the AILG and LAMA members. It is very important that we listen to local representatives. I implore the Minister to accept these two amendments.