Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 25, to delete lines 6 to 12 and substitute the following: “(b) stating that a copy of the proposed statement, amendment or revocation may be inspected on a website of the Government, and available for inspection at a local authority planning office, and

(c) inviting members of the public and prescribed bodies as follows: a local, regional or planning authority, the Commissioners of Public Works (OPW) and a body referred to in Article 28 or 137 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended), to make representations in writing thereon to the Minister, not later than six weeks after the date of publication of the notice in the newspaper (or, if the notice is published in more than one such newspaper, the last date of publication), at an address (which may be an electronic address) specified in the notice.”.

At subsection (b) of my amendment I have added the phrase "and available for inspection at a local authority planing office". I am sure the Minister of State and all of us know the importance of a local planning office. It is a reference point for communities in terms of planning. It is where many planning issues are co-ordinated and put on public display. Other Government agencies and Departments use a local planning office as a hub for information on planning issues. That is right. I always try to bring everything back to local and community matters. They are the natural planning authorities in the 31 local authority areas and, therefore, it is not too much to stipulate "and available for inspection at a local authority planning office".

The second part of my amendment reads: "(c) inviting members of the public and prescribed bodies as follows: a local, regional or planning authority, the Commissioners of Public Works (OPW)". The Minister of State will know what prescribed bodies means. It was important that I included the OPW in the list because we underestimate the work of the OPW in terms of maritime development. For many years I was a director of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and we had a very close working arrangement with the OPW. Indeed, the Office of Public Works ran and administered the harbour very successfully for many years.

My amendment continues:

..and a body referred to in Article 28 or 137 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended), to make representations in writing thereon to the Minister, not later than six weeks after the date of publication of the notice in the newspaper (or, if the notice is published in more than one such newspaper, the last date of publication), at an address (which may be an electronic address) specified in the notice.

There has been much talk about engagement and I know the Minister of State is committed to that. It is important that we have public participation, which has been echoed by everything he has said about heritage and planning. That is right and we, as a House, are committed to that. My amendment is very simple, obvious and practical and I hope it has the support of the Minister of State.