Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to get confirmation from the Minister of State as regards the flexibility to withdraw something from being exempted development. We need to be cautious with it. It states, under section 9(3), that it shall not be exempted if an appropriate assessment of the development, and that has to be listed as being, say, an SAC site, is required. Unfortunately, the appropriate assessment does not involve the public, which would normally be part of the planning process. If a change is being made and exempted development is being used or maybe abused in cases, the public's views will not be taken into account. We need to take them into account, particularly if the development that it has been looked for to be exempted is in an urban area, a private development or an estate development that will affect the fabric of those who are living there. We cannot allow exempted development in any case. There are people stretching exempted development to get around the planning process and changing it thereafter. We need to take that into consideration, particularly when it is in a residential estate. We have to look at the concerns, particularly of those who are living there.