Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that the Planning and Development Bill will lead to significant delays in the delivery of much needed housing, critical infrastructure, public transport and renewable energy projects.

The Dublin Mid-West TD’s comments were made in advance of the final session of the Bill in the Dáil tonight.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“The Planning and Development Bill is the most controversial and criticised piece of legislation that I have ever dealt with. It has been heavily criticised by planners, developers, environmental advocates, residents’ groups and planning law specialists.

“If enacted, it will cause untold problems in our planning system. It is unwieldy and unworkable. It will increase confusion and conflict. In turn, this will lead to more appeals and judicial reviews. This will lead to significant delays in the delivery of much needed housing, critical infrastructure, public transport and renewable energy projects.

“To make matters worse, tonight the government is ramming 175 pages of Seanad amendments through the Dáil in just three hours. These complex changes to an already over-complex Bill have yet to be fully scrutinised and will receive little scrutiny tonight.

“It is hard to understand why the Minister has ignored the views of so many people involved in planning and development. It will take years to undo the damage caused by this Bill if enacted.

“If Sinn Féin is part of the next government, we would not enact the vast majority of this Bill as we firmly believe that it will make our planning system worse, not better.”