Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)

Senator O'Loughlin has mentioned the murder of Clodagh Hawe and her three sons. Being from Cavan, I remember hearing about it on the day and it sent shock waves through the whole country. I commend Clodagh's sister, Jacqueline Connolly, on speaking out on a previous occasion and for writing a book about this. At the time, some of the media reports and others described the perpetrator as a pillar of society and how this was a tragic event. To me, a tragedy suggests something accidental or that could not be helped. This person was not a pillar of society. He was a murderer and he should be called out for what he was, namely, an absolutely shameful individual.

I wish to raise the issue of the continued delays in dealing with appeals by An Bord Pleanála. Local authorities must give a decision on a planning application within a set length of time and applicants must adhere to that but the board does not, so the process can go on for ages. Yesterday, a person contacted me and told me they had received planning permission in March 2024. An appeal was lodged with the board by a third party a few weeks later but the appeal still has not been dealt with and a year has elapsed. The board did write to the applicant notifying that an inspector would conduct an inspection in August but no one arrived. The board again sent a written notification that an inspector would visit before Christmas but nobody arrived. The applicant still awaits a decision and cannot get anywhere, which is totally unfair.

I ask the Acting Leader to raise this issue with the Minister, Deputy James Browne, to see whether something can be done such as putting resources into the board to address this issue in order that people do not have to wait an endless amount of time without an answer during an appeal.