Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The section allows for the area where the Minister might provide for regulations in such matters as procedure and administration. It would be useful to understand exactly what the problem is at the moment with the system we have. We already have a system for applying for substitute consent. Section 5 expands it and mainly seems to be an expansion to allow for simultaneous new applications. It would be useful for us to have reports on a few issues. This is where the regulations may come in. These may be issues that should be addressed through the regulations. It would be useful to know what kinds and what level of applications for substitute consent are happening currently; if there was a change in either the nature or volume of applications for substitute consent that may emerge after the passing of the Bill; the number of applications deemed to be successful and not successful; and the number of applications for substitute consent that might be accompanied by additional new applications for planning permission. I mention the current situation because it would be very useful for us to have a baseline. It would also be appropriate that within the regulations or such regulations as the Minister might make, he or she would specify the identification of patterns in respect of how these new powers are being used, what their impact is. This is because of that duty to ensure that we have not created, as I believe we will, an incentive in respect of developers and developments. One of the ways we need to be looking to the impact and ensuring that we main the principle of this being an exception rather than a new rule or new form of rule or, indeed, a new route towards planning that will have to be by monitoring. I will table amendments to the section on Report Stage seeking that within the regulations the Minister may set, there will be significant monitoring requirements and perhaps, while being appropriately careful in respect of data protection of individual cases, mechanisms that allow for the identification of concerns or patterns.