Breaches of planning law occur too often and then it takes too long before the local authorities can do something about it and this state of affairs needs to change.
This is the view of Independent councillor Jim Cuddy, who is calling on the Minister for the Environment John Gormley to make a provision in the Planning and Development Bill for stronger planning enforcement regulations.
“By the time the enforcement section can take action on an unauthorised development too much damage has already been done,” he said. “Planning breaches cause much undue stress and anxiety to people who have been affected by unauthorised development and something needs to be done.”
Cllr Cuddy is calling on Minister Gormley to introduce a provision in the Planning and Development Bill, which is currently being debated in the Oireachtas, to give greater powers to local authorities and other bodies to take immediate action if a breach of planning is taking place.
“It is particularly important to address the issue of breaches of planning which take place over the weekend, when local authority officials are not available,” he said.
Cllr Cuddy has written to the Minister outlining his proposals and hopes they will be included when the Planning and Development Act is signed into law
