I hope the "Prime Time" producers are watching tonight because one of their investigations is the only thing that could possibly help root out the numerous planning abuses that have taken place throughout this country. The abuse is due either to a lack of resourcing among local authorities or insufficient legislation on the matter by means of the planning Acts and other laws.
I want to be specific. There are many areas around the country which might have been brought to my attention, but a case from my own constituency might be most appropriate. Time and again we see where developers or in some cases businesses construct what would be seen as developments in breach of planning regulations without planning permission. Sometimes they later seek and secure retention. That is fair enough. They pay the price for that. In many cases however, dwellings or businesses are built with no enforcement proceedings being initiated to stop them. There is a glut there.
In south County Dublin, where I was first elected as a councillor, and which area has now co-opted councillor Fintan McCarthy, this abuse is endemic. It is not just a case of large-scale development as in the case of Weston Aerodrome, recently being granted a limited permission by An Bord Pleanála while enforcement proceedings were still going on regarding unauthorised developments elsewhere on the site. We heard that the developer of Weston Aerodrome was in breach of numerous planning regulations in Saggart at the time. I do not necessarily want to have a go at Mr. Mansfield. He is a high profile person and he wants to build a conference centre which would be hugely welcome in the county. That is one large-scale example of how planning permission is being applied for without the regulations being adhered to.
The law needs to be changed so that a council is not drained, with its staff working full time trying to enforce regulations, and their eyes taken off the ball elsewhere. Councils need more resources in their enforcement departments, or else a law is needed. I will consider later what is required in such a law.
I will tell a little story about an area near Rathcoole called Calleaguestown. It is a small laneway on the outskirts of Rathcoole. I would call it the planning breach centre of Ireland. It has quite a number of developments including office buildings, a furniture retailer and other commercial units erected without any action being taken by South Dublin County Council over some time. This is an area of significant historical and archaeological interest, but the council has taken no action to protect the historical landscape. All the developments contravene the county development plan.
There have also been allegations of threats against residents of the area who have dared to suggest they have a right to see that proper planning procedures are adhered to in their area, yet nothing has been done. A business is allegedly owned by Noel and Celia Lee or a Jimmy Dunne. There is another furniture shop, Stafford Furniture, and the involvement of another relative, John Dunne. Some of these people seem to be related. I do not wish to cast aspersions on people but the records and the buildings exist. Photographs which I cannot show in the House show buildings that the council knows should not exist, yet it has taken no action.
Will the Minister of State explain why the council has done nothing? Is it incompetence on its part or has it been given insufficient resources to act? If developers or businesses are in breach of the planning laws and if enforcement proceedings have been issued against them they should not be allowed obtain planning permission for one more development. That would be a fair and just practice. Otherwise there will be a web of unauthorised developments and councils throughout the country will not be able to keep up. It is known that already they cannot keep pace with developments.
This issue requires further debate. I may request a section 31 ruling or I may at some future time seek the adjournment of the House under Standing Order 21. I await the Minister of State's views on how this crux can be solved. It will have to be done by providing extra resources or amending the planning legislation.