A 'Planning' candidate could run in Donegal in the next general election, it has been revealed this week. It has emerged that 'sounding out approaches' have been made to people who might be seen to have a planning profile.
Local Solicitor Dessie Shiels made the revelation this week as he warned that for perhaps the first time ever, potential TDs running for election in early summer 2007 will now be seriously asked by voters what they're going to do about planning issues in Donegal if they get elected to Dail Eireann. He said he had been inundated over the last few months by people wanting to know how they could get planning under the new 2006 Plan.
"Even compared to the time of the last general election, planning has become a major issue in Donegal and it would be very politically short sighted for any potential candidate to not devise a planning policy for their election manifesto. If no clear policies come to light in the next few months it is not inconceivable that a 'planning' candidate might yet come into play in the election – its already been the case that sounding out approaches have been made to certain persons who might be seen to have a 'planning' profile. Added to that there are already a number of very publicly prominent candidates and a candidate who 'stands out from the crowd' from a planning perspective will realise a serious vote," he said.
"With a general election planned for May-June 2007, it seems likely that reform of the new County Development Plan 2006 will be a major election issue on the ground for voters. The new Plan is both prohibitive and backward looking and failed to grasp the opportunity to encourage development in Donegal at a time when the local economy is very much dependent on it. Although the County Councillors have agreed to review the plan in less than a year now, it is the Dail candidates in the upcoming election who are going to have to grasp the issue first.
"Although the new Plan was brought in at County Council level, voters will be asking potential Dail candidates what they intend to do to ensure that the new Plan is reviewed to allow local Donegal people to live where they choose in their own county – potential TDs will simply have to face up to the political reality that voters want and indeed need to see prosperity in their own County at a personal level and that is being gauged more and more by young people by reference to whether they can build a good home for their family in an attractive location.
"I have been inundated in the last few months with people wanting to know how they can get planning under the new 2006 Plan. People want to know how they can 'get around' section 47 agreements or how they can get planning for more than one house to sell. Unfortunately the new Plan if it is followed to the letter of the law is very tight on these matters and the only advice that can be given to these persons is to speak to their councillor or TD and canvass them to make changes. As a solicitor, I can't change the Plan – only the councillors can do this.
"Canvassing for change is obviously already occurring - the difficulties faced by councillors on the ground have come to prominence in only the last week where 4 section 140 motions were withdrawn at the last moment when it was realised that they would not be passed – given that some of these developments would have been passed only a few months ago under the old Plan, County Councillors must now be asking themselves why they didn't stop the prohibitive new Plan taking effect. Potential TDs will now be asked what they're going to do about the problem if they get elected and it would be very politically short sighted for any potential candidate to not devise a planning policy for their election manifesto. If no clear policies come to light in the next few months it is not inconceivable that a 'planning' candidate might yet come into play in the election.
"The planning dynamic in Donegal also now demands that Dail candidates offer the electorate advances in infrastructure at all levels, whether it be roads, hospitals, water supply, sewage treatment, public transport or schools. For example it is recognised that Letterkenny needs more progress on building relief roads – everybody knows where they need to go but the money isn't there yet. Letterkenny Hospital also needs money. Various areas have experienced water shortages – notably Manorcunningham recently and public transport and schooling issues have been increasingly prominent. Although there are national issues to be dealt with voters will inevitably look at what various persons/parties have brought to the County and what candidates are likely to be able to bring to the County.
