The Minister also wants to increase the power of local authorities to make compulsory purchase orders, including measures to clarify how they can acquire vacant or derelict properties and sell them for development or residential use.The draft laws, in preparation for months, are for discussion on Monday at the regular pre-Cabinet meeting of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Green leader Eamon Ryan.
After scores of fast-track approvals for large housing schemes were appealed successfully in the High Court, Mr O’Brien’s legislation will impose new restrictions on the way judicial review cases can be taken. A judicial review is a mechanism for people to go to court to challenge the decision-making process of a public body.
Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart told the Dáil in September that certain residents’ associations had discovered that judicial review cases could be financed with the proceeds of “10 cake sales”.Still, it is recognised at high levels in the Coalition that restrictions on judicial reviews are likely to face constitutional challenge.
I’m not sure what planning laws are for if not for ordinary people to have a say what is thrown in beside them regardless of infrastructure or proper consultation? What’s this we live in?
Just keep building. If you build it, they will keep coming.