The Chair of Clare’s Housing Committee has branded changes to the planning process a ‘distractionary tactic’ to cover the ‘incompetence’ in efforts to tackle the housing crisis.
The government approved a radical overhaul of the planning system this week, including changes to An Bord Pleanala and judicial reviews.
In a week where he faced a motion of no confidence in the Dáil, Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien brought forward proposals to Cabinet which he says will overhaul the planning process.
Minister O’Brien insists the current system is ‘not fit for purpose’ in it’s current form.
Among the measures approved by government is the reform of An Bord Pleanala.
Under the Planning and Development Bill the independent planning body is set to be renamed to ‘An Coimisiún Pleanála’.
It will be restructured, with the Chairperson and Board Member roles being replaced by a Chief Planning Commissioner and up to 14 full-time planning commissioners.
A new governing executive, separate from the decision makers, will also be responsible for the organisation’s governance.
Chair of Clare County Council’s Social Development Strategic Policy Committee, Shannon Councillor Gerry Flynn, is concerned these changes amount to undue government interference in the planning process.
One of the major changes signed off on by Cabinet has caused concern within the Green Party.
Under the planned changes, groups (including resident’s associations) will no longer be able to apply for judicial reviews in relation to proposed developments.
However, Inagh-based Green Senator Róisín Garvey insists that nothing is set in stone and all concerns will be ironed out before the final changes go through.
Despite suggestions in some quarters that the coalition parties could be on a collision course of the matter, Senator Garvey has dismissed the notion.
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