DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ireland will bring forward proposals to set a higher bar for people to challenge planning decisions in the courts, particularly for major infrastructure projects, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said on Wednesday.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
The government pledged in July to channel a multinational-driven corporate tax boom into boosting public infrastructure spending by 30% over the next five years. The International Monetary Fund estimated recently that Ireland’s infrastructure lags competitor economies by around 32% and that planning delays remained a key challenge in closing that gap.
While major new planning laws last year introduced a more streamlined process for judicial review challenges to planning decisions, Martin said more needs to be done.
CONTEXT
A judicial review commenced last week against planning permission for a major new wastewater treatment facility that the national water utility says will service 500,000 people in the greater Dublin area, and is critical to service a planned rapid increase in new housebuilding.
Martin said he was “dismayed” by the court challenge due to the potentially significant consequences for housebuilding. The government is already behind in its targets to boost much needed housing supply.
KEY QUOTES
“I do support proposals to reposition the common good in a preeminent position in terms of planning issues and development issues, particularly in terms of major infrastructure issues,” Martin told a news conference.
“More needs to be done and what you could see in time is bespoke legislation on specific projects so that government asserts its position in getting fundamental projects through. Water is fundamental, energy is now fundamental as well.”
(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar)
