A faster, more efficient system of decisions for major planning applications can become a reality if the Government honours its commitment to establish a planning and environmental court.
This is the view of Fine Gael senator, Sean Kyne, who was speaking in the Seanad this week. He said delays to planning decisions, particularly because of legal challenges, are costing the State, local authorities, and private applicants in terms of loss of opportunity, building costs, and environmental damage, as well as making homes more expensive due to added cost and delaying their delivery.
The lengthy process which scuppered the Galway City Outer Bypass and the delays resulting in Apple not proceeding with its project in Athenry were all highlighted by Sen Kyne [pictured below].
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“Housing, roads, greenways and wastewater schemes can all be subject to lengthy legal challenges that delay projects most needed for sustainability, job creation, and environmental protection,” he said, although he also acknowledged that members of the public are “entitled to object as part of a robust planning process”.
The programme for Government commits to establishing a planning and environmental court. Sen Kyne believes this could assist in “speedier decision making” with specialist judges deciding on applications on key projects. “Measures to establish such a court need to be put in place,” he said. “I have called for a debate on the issue.”
