I move amendment No. 18: In page 9, to delete lines 13 to 17 and substitute the following: “ “(1B) Where a planning authority receives an application for permission to which section 32A(1) applies it shall— (a) notify the elected members of the planning authority of the making of the application, of where the application is available for inspection, and of such other information as may be prescribed, and (b) at the next meeting of each Area Committee concerned, or of the municipal district members for each municipa…

The Minister spoke about bringing planning back to local government. That is what we are trying to do. He and other speakers have mentioned the importance of councillors in the planning function, and this is an attempt to do that with regard to notification of planning applications to be discussed. That is why we are proposing it. We discussed it on the previous occasion as well. I look forward to hearing what the Minister has to say.

I welcome the Minister's comments and I will withdraw the amendment on the basis that he will examine this for the next Stage. I appreciate that and thank him.

I second the amendment.

I move amendment No. 21: In page 10, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “Limit of duration of permission 6. Section 40 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (3): “(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), where a planning authority grants a permission to which section 32A(1) applies— (a) ‘the appropriate period’ means the period of 12 months beginning on the date of the grant of permission, and (b) section 41 shall not apply in relation to the permissio…

This was discussed on Committee Stage. I would like to hear the Minister's comments again. It is about using or losing planning permission. We are all aware of the problems with SHDs. The Bill attempts to deal with that. We all want something good to come out of this and to ensure that planning comes back to where we all want it to be. We have tabled this amendment because we do not want land held on an extended basis.

I accept what the Minister has said. I still want to press the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I welcome the Minister of State. I am also glad to be sharing time on this very important matter for families in south County Kildare. I, like my colleague, have raised this continually since becoming a Member of the Seanad. Indeed, I think this is the third time I have raised it on the Commencement. We need a temporary three- to four-year plan. We have just heard we may have a school that was promised and announced in 2018 but we still do not know that with any certainty. There is no certainty for the families rin…

This school was announced in December 2018. That was three years ago, which is enough time for anyone to ensure that everything is in place. I, too, was involved in St. Paul's school, as the Minister of State will be aware, and that took so long. Three years is long enough for anybody. We are tired waiting on this. It has to happen. I wish to draw his attention to something he did not say in the final paragraph of his reply. It states: "for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action." I assure the Ministe…

Like other members, I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. I consider it an honour to have been elected to this House. I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has come to listen to us today. I join the Taoiseach in thanking all our front-line workers but there is one cohort of front-line workers on whom I want to concentrate. Since I come from the great county of Kildare, it may come as no surprise that I am referring to our Defence Forces. I would appreciate it if the Taoiseach, as Head of the Government, clarified t…

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

I also welcome the Minister of State and thank her for her comprehensive reply. As a previous Senator said, the reply extended to 20 minutes. It will take some time to examine it, as noted by Members in the Lower House last night. There is much contained in that statement given by the Minister of State. I welcome it but we should also take some time to digest it before coming back to discuss the matter even further, given the seriousness of what is before us today. The R116 accident of 14 March 2017 was, without do…

I welcome the Minister to the House. As a Member of the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union I have heard at first hand the issues that businesses, communities and individuals have already faced since the UK took it upon itself to leave the EU. The fall-out from the withdrawal is still being felt on a day-to-day basis throughout the island as days and weeks are added to the delivery of parts and ingredients from many industries and services here. I had the …

Hear, hear.

There will be a chance to speak to the section.