Mayo TD introduces new Bill to tackle planning delays

MAYO Aontú TD Paul Lawless has introduced the Planning and Development Material Interest Bill in the Dáil.

The Bill seeks to ban objections to planning applications from people who do not have a ‘material interest’ in the development.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Lawless said: “This is a very important piece of legislation which I hope will speed up the planning process for those seeking to build homes.

“This Bill aims to ensure that only people with a genuine, local stake in a development can object to it. We want to prevent scenarios where individuals or groups with no connection to a community can delay badly needed infrastructure and housing projects.

“Under this Bill, people will be barred from objecting if they live more than 10km from the site, or if they own land more than 5km away and do not have a genuine material interest in the development.”

Deputy Lawless continued: “Our Bill makes exceptions in cases where state authorities or public bodies or groups wish to make an objection on behalf of people who do have a material interest in the development.

“I have a major problem with regard to vexatious planning objections from people who are not affected by the development at all. This Bill balances the right to object with the need to prevent abuse of the planning process.

“Our Bill protects the rights of community groups to object to developments. It protects the rights of people to lodge objections on behalf of residents in the area. It protects the rights of businesses whose interest may be affected. It is fair. It is reasonable. And it is proportionate.

“We have huge problems with planning in Ireland. Recently, we asked the Minister for Housing how long the average person waits for planning permission. He told us he didn’t know, and that it wasn’t his responsibility.

“On one end of the spectrum, ordinary people trying to build homes are being refused planning because a window is an inch too wide. On the other end, we see enormous developments shouldered onto communities without adequate consultation, or in some cases bypassing parts of the process entirely.”

He added: “If I wanted to build an enormous wind farm in Mayo in the morning, I would not need to go through Mayo County Council. But if I want to build a shed at the back of my house, I must go through the council. If I want to turn an office block into accommodation for migrants, I do not need planning permission. But if I want to remove a chimney from my home, I do need planning.

“These discrepancies and double standards need to be ironed out. Some of the rules are simply ridiculous.”