Government set to consider change in planning laws

The Government has not ruled out changing the planning laws to allow it override the Bord Pleanála decision on the hospital.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the Government would consider all options open to it, including a legislative change, reducing the proposed size of the project, or locating it on another site.

He was responding to Fianna Fáil deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív, who urged the Coalition immediately to amend the Planning and Development Act so that the hospital project could be pushed through on the Mater hospital site.

That act, often referred to as the Critical Infrastructure Act, had already been availed of to fast-track the planning application for the hospital, so that it went directly to Bord Pleanála for consideration.

Mr Ó Cuív said that reducing the scale of the project would inevitably mean additional delay, as it would require another “tortuous” planning permission process. He suggested instead that the Government amend the act to allow it to override the board’s decision, saying: “If ever there was a piece of critical infrastructure, this is it.”

Mr Gilmore said the Government would consider the suggestion as part of its deliberations. But he urged Mr Ó Cuív not to be “daft” in expecting an instant solution, stressing that the ramifications of the board’s decision could not be dealt with “overnight”.

Mr Gilmore insisted that, one way or another, the Government would build the hospital, whether at the Mater or on a different site.

Government backbenchers said there was considerable “surprise” and “anger” at the board’s decision, suggesting ministers had not expected the application to be rejected.

One TD said the possibility of amending the planning act was definitely being discussed as a potential option.

Separately, the chair of the Oireachtas committee on health, Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer, said that whatever the Government decided, it was essentially the project be “fast-tracked”.

“In its decision, the board accepted the general suitability of co-location with an acute adult hospital for the development of this facility. The reasons for refusal seem to be based on visual impact and amenity.

“In reviewing the plans for the hospital, all elements, including location and size, must be re-examined. Already €33m has been spent on developing the proposal and I hope that much of this work will form the basis of revised future proposals,” he said.

“It is essential that the review is fast-tracked and that this vital piece of our health infrastructure is progressed without any further unnecessary delay.”