Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It should not be the norm. It should not be just a go-to. There are reasons some of that happened. I got rid of the strategic housing developments, SHDs. I understood the principle of them. The application of them was different because communities felt they did not have their say. If they went to the board and it decided against them, their only recourse was to the courts. We made that decision to go back to a two-stage planning process and to get back to the local authority. That is why the development plan changes are not in any way removing powers from local authority members. It is to have a better plan-led approach at a local level so we can have a proper strategic view.

Senator McDowell made some points here earlier about how local authorities will develop land. We are doing that through the LDA and other organisations. We have some good examples of it. The threat of the CPO in local authorities often works to unlock the land. CPO changes are certainly needed.

On the situation of cúrsaí pleanála agus tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht, d'athraigh mé an Bille chun pleanáil sa Ghaeltacht a neartú. Tá sé istigh sa Bhille anois in ailt 52 agus 72. Mar sin, don chéad uair ó thaobh an dlí de, caithfidh gach rialtas nó údarás áitiúil pleanáil speisialta a dhéanamh le haghaidh gach ceantar Gaeltachta sa tír. Caithfear plean forbartha a sholáthar i ngach ceantar Gaeltachta, ach go háirithe ar na hoileáin. Tá sé sa dlí don chéad uair riamh. I have listened to the Gaeltacht communities. I want us to be able to provide more homes in our Gaeltacht regions. As I said I would, I have put in special provisions for our islands and Gaeltacht in the Bill.

A few things were mentioned which I will come back to in more detail. A number of Senators, including Senators Cummins and Boyhan, have raised rural housing. Some 5,000 rural homes were granted and delivered last year. I understand people get frustrated with this. I support rural housing. I also support a Town Centre First approach. That is why our vacancy grants have been so successful across the country. We talked about vacancies. More than 5,000 grants have been approved already, which people can use for old homes, both farmhouses and in villages. Some 5,000 rural homes were built in 2023. This Government supports good rural planning.

Those planning guidelines have been with the Attorney General for final legal checks. I have asked my officials for an update on it. That is since late last year. It is with the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon. I expect any publication of draft guidelines would go on public display too, as we did with the compact urban settlement growth guidelines, which are making a real difference. We have seen the first planning applications being lodged under those new arrangements. There are more viable own-door units and more appropriate units in the appropriate places. They have been working well.

Senator Moynihan raised a point regarding bike storage. I do not mean to pick one minor issue out of all this. I am using that as an example. That type of thing will be looked at with the regulations.

It is crucial that this legislation passes. We all know of situations with the grey areas created since the Planning and Development Act 2000. All the changes, various amendments and amending legislation have left a number of grey areas and a lack of certainty and consistency of approach.I heard the House debating the national planning statements yesterday. Why are we bringing forward national planning statements? It is because the way guidelines have been interpreted heretofore has been such that they could be interpreted differently in other areas and, frankly, the courts have torn them asunder in many instances. Guidelines have been ripped asunder. National planning statements will be Government decisions. Yes, they will be centralised but it is about a Government's policy to be able to deliver the national development plan and to deliver on a housing strategy like we are doing. It is important that is done. The planning will be at a local level. The development plan-making will be at a local level, and rightly so because I support councillors in doing that.

I know there was quite a significant debate and back and forth yesterday with regard to the Office of the Planning Regulator. I have flagged already that we are looking at improving the governance arrangements within the OPR but I do want to say just a couple of words in support for the Office of the Planning Regulator and for the planning regulator himself. We all know where the office came from. It is important we have a regulator. In section 61 that Senator McDowell referred to, there are recommendations for the regulator. The regulator does not hold the whip hand, but it is right and proper that a regulator is in place who will ensure development plans are consistent, that what is passed in a development plan is actually-----