Sharon Keogan (Independent)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 4, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 1 of Principal Act

3. Section 1 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2):

“(2A) Without prejudice to subsection (2) the provisions of this Act relating to the repeal of the termination of the Office of the Planning Regulator shall come into effect on the passing of this Act.”.”.

This relates to the Office of the Planning Regulator, which has been the biggest stumbling block when it comes to building housing in this country. The Government talked earlier this year about appointing a housing tsar.I think we already have one. This particular regulator has caused serious issues for city and county councillors. It sets objectives for a county's development plan, determines planning strategies and sets objectives for each of the local authorities. It has dezoned land. The amount of land that was dezoned in this country by the Planning Regulator is criminal. The Bill last year reinforced the role of the Office of the Planning Regulator which, from time to time has sought to undermine planning decisions.

Ireland has one of the weakest systems of local government in Europe. We should be looking to change this. Considering that most councillors are familiar with their area, they should be the ones entrusted to make decisions on planning, zoning and other issues. At this moment in time local authority members are waiting for the numbers to come out from the Department on what they will be allowed to build. The Department is looking for lands that are zoned or may have services on them. Almost half these lands were dezoned by the Planning Regulator in 2018. I remember being a member of the council at the time and we had to dezone land. Here we are shouting for housing today. For me, this office has been the biggest stumbling block to housing in this country and it should be terminated.