Greens table motion to condemn corruption

The Green Party is to bring a private members' motion before the Dail condemning corruption in the planning process.

The Green Party is to bring a private members' motion before the Dail condemning corruption in the planning process.

The motion condemns those parties that have failed to discipline their members for what it describes as "their collective amnesia" with regard to monies received from developers.

It also "deplores the culture of alleged corrupt planning and rezoning that has resulted in urban sprawl, where schools, playgrounds, local jobs and public transport were not provided in tandem with housing.

Party leader Trevor Sargent claimed corruption in planning had created hundreds of thousands of victims.

READ MORE

"These victims are mainly ordinary taxpayers fleeced by the big developer friends of 'Bertie the Builder'," he claimed.

"Many of these house buyer victims are now heavily indebted families with no option but to live far away from jobs, shops and essential services."

Mr Sargent said the motion reflected an anger and frustration which is widespread at the lack of censure for corruption uncovered by the Mahon tribunal on planning.

Green Party environment spokesman Ciaran Cuffe said: "We have to put in place a planning system that is beyond reproach."

"Any decision by a local authority to rezone land must in future be vetted by a body such as An Bord Pleanála to ensure that they are based on sustainable development principles," he said.