Labour says development put before people

The Labour Party has accused the Government of putting the needs of property developers above the needs of local communities in its planning and development policies.

The accusation follows An Bord Pleanála's decision yesterday to approve planning permission for the construction of more than 2,300 new homes, as well as shops and pubs, on the site of the old Phoenix Park racecourse.

Labour spokeswoman Joan Burton said the Government has not made adequate provisions for transport, education and community centres in the area and others like it that have experienced huge developments in recent years.

"Proper development would require that, not only do we obviously need more extra houses, but that we put them in appropriate locations and that when we build them, we build the services like the schools and the transport beside them," she said.

"Most other countries manage to insist that the infrastructure is built alongside the houses and we just don't seem to be able to understand that."