Cllrs react to RTÉ planning programme

Local councillors have come out strongly and are demanding reform of the national planning system in light of the RTÉ Investigates programme that aired recently revealing issues with serial objectors in Ireland.

Independent Cllr Shane P. O'Reilly said there was “no councillor in the chamber who has not had to deal with allegations like this over their term".

“Vexatious” objections, as he described, were rife in the planning system, and the situation was all the more “maddening” where housing projects are being objected to in the “middle of a housing crisis”.

He suggested that, arising from the programme, there may yet be a garda investigation arising, and stated the Cavan County Council itself should also “conduct a review” of cases involving persons lodging multiple objections.

The motion was supported by Fianna Fáil's Clifford Kelly who said that the €20 cost to lodge an objection is being “abused”.

He instead stated that, those entitled to object, should come from the immediate area.

“It's disgraceful what was highlighted in that programme.”

Fine Gael's Winston Bennett agreed. He said the cost of lodging an objection should be put at €2,500, which was returnable only if the appeal was upheld.

“It would put a lot of serial objectors out of business,” he suggested.

Fellow party member T.P. O'Reilly said one of the most galling aspects of the RTÉ programme was that the objections are being lodged under the “guise of environmentalism”. “This has to be thoroughly investigated,” he said.