Victor Boyhan: Pleanála must be resourced, no more excuses

Minister, I suppose I'm really using this, as I did with the other section there, as an opportunity. This is the first mention of Commission Planola, the Commission. And I suppose, really, I just want to use this as an opportunity just to highlight a number of issues in relation to Commission Planola. Yes, it has come through a pretty rocky road. And you know, and I know, and a number of Senators who served, and particularly Senator Flaherty, in terms of the Housing Committee and the long and protracted discussions we had about Planola. And I think there were a lot of shortcomings, but in fairness, the Board have responded well. It appears to be up and running. There are issues around timelines there. And again, Minister, I'm not expecting you to respond here tonight. I'm really just using this as an opportunity on the floor of the House to echo some of my concerns, and maybe you could bring it back to the Department. But at the end of the day, we, if we, you know, and I welcome any timeframes where you put down statutory timelines for the delivery. Because I cited here at the last outing on this bill how developers who were very successful in building new homes, very desirable, proper, sustainable homes, that people were buying in advance of them even going on the market, are expressing an indication of their desire to buy them. And I think the problem is that I'm meeting entrepreneurs and people who want to put their money where their mouth, want to develop really classy, good, sustainable homes. And for some reason, through the planning process, they seem to be locked out of further engagement. And many of them are waiting months and months and months to get a response from on-board planning. Just a status update. Where are we now with our application to build 135 homes in South County Dublin? And I think this is the problem. And it's got to be fit, it's got to be slick and efficient and fit for purpose. And if the government are serious about tackling sustainability, houses, proper planning and sustainable development, the board has to be responsive and capable of responding to valid applications that have come through a process and are sitting beside them. But we can't have a situation where the board cannot do its work. So if the board is short resources or staff, they need to be equipped with them. And I think that is the story coming in. Somehow, people who object or raise concerns or submit observations, not necessarily objections, they're interested, they're engaging. And I'm quite amazed in the last year, talking to a number of politicians in Leinster House who talk about, are people frustrating the process? People don't set out to frustrate a planning process. Indeed, many politicians in this house are on record of making submissions and objections to developments in their own backyard. And you can't have it two ways. You can't have a view because you're meant to be representing people and then somehow having a different view when you're a minister coming in here, and I'm not talking about you, Minister, and suggesting, oh no, all these objections are holding up the process. There are many strands to the proper planning and sustainable development of our communities. And I suppose what I'm really saying in terms of the board, we can have, when you get this legislation through the House Minister, I mean, there can be no more excuses about planning. I mean, the 2024 bill was to be the panacea of all our problems. We were going to have homes everywhere. They were falling out all over the place. We were going to have wonderful playgrounds, communities, sports clubs, leisure clubs, swimming pools, you name it, we were going to have it. This is now 2026. And in a year's time, in two years, I hope I'll be saying, well done, great, but the lead into proper development. And it's not about building bricks alone. It's about building sustainable communities. And I suppose really what I'm saying here is, and I'll finish on this point, we must resource on commission planola with the expertise, with the experience, with the staff, and we don't want to hear anything about embargoes and they're not able to manage their affairs. And that goes for our planning authorities. And I want to, you know, again, salute the work of our planners and our 31 planning authorities who are under immense stress. You know what in Limerick City and County yourself. I know some of the people down there. There are real difficulties. There's so much coming at them. But I welcome the idea of the tight timelines. I think that's really, really important. No more excuses. Allow the democratic process. Allow the public engagement, which is so healthy in a democracy, to shape the outcomes or contribute to shape, not to have predetermined outcomes about everything, but to shape those outcomes for the better for all. Thanks. Thank you very much. Can I just welcome some guests there from Liffey College, Councillor Eamonn O'Alley and Councillor Mary Fitzpatrick, guests of Senator Joe O'Reilly and Minister Peter Bourke. Thanks for being here. Welcome all. Thank you very much. As you probably know or are very well aware, the Section 19 of the Act itself is about development plans. I have no problem with the amendment. I think you're very familiar. I think the points you make are truly noted. I can go through what's being proposed under the Part 40 Act, in terms of the 2024 Act, in terms of the statute of deadlines coming in for both planning and operating income, schooling and all that. If you wish me to do that, I will. I understand. I'm conscious of time. I just really wanted you to take on board those concerns. And we very much take on board your learned views. Thank you very much. Thanks. Thank you.