Mayo TD’s bid to stop planning objections from anyone with ‘no material interest in development’
Mayo TD Paul Lawless has introduced a Bill that would ban objections to planning applications from anyone without a material interest in the development, with the aim of speeding up the planning process for new developments.
The Planning and Development (Material Interest) Bill 2026 aims to prevent planning permissions for developments from being delayed due to “geographically distant objectors” who do not have a material interest in proposed plans.
Under the Bill, it will not be possible to submit an objection to a planning application if a person lives more than 10km from the site in question, or if they own land more than 5km away.
Deputy Lawless said it will protect the right of objections made by those with a material interest, while also serving the interests of those who would benefit from the proposed development.
The Bill would add a section into the current Planning and Development Act 2024 stating that, subject to exceptions, any submission, observation or appeal that opposes planning permission for a development will be deemed “ineffective” and will not be considered by a planning authority or by An Coimisiún Pleanála, unless it has been made by, or on behalf of, a person or body that has a material interest in said development.
The additional section of the legislation also outlines that any evidence submitted solely for the purpose of establishing that a person has a material interest in the development concerned will not be made available to the public by the planning authority or by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Lawless said his reason for drafting the Bill was to speed up the planning process for those looking to build homes, explaining that it would ensure only those with a “genuine local stake” in a development are able to submit an objection.
“We want to prevent scenarios where individuals or groups with no connection to a community can delay badly needed infrastructure and housing projects,” he said.
Deputy Lawless added that the Bill includes exceptions for cases where State authorities, public bodies or groups wish to make an objection on behalf of people who do have a material interest in the development.
“I have a major problem with regard to vexatious planning objections from people who are not affected by the development at all,” he said. “This bill balances the right to object with the need to prevent abuse of the planning process”.
The issue of ‘vexatious’ or false submissions was raised at a meeting of Mayo County Council last month, following an update given to elected members on planning enforcement, which highlighted a rise in false complaints being lodged.
Director of Services Catherine McConnell told councillors that the office is seeing “a rise in a lot of false complaints being lodged under false names and false addresses,” and said that, having spoken with colleagues across the country, it appears to be part of a wider trend.
She noted that 103 complaints were made in 2025, a lower number than in previous years, as the council now must triage complaints to determine if they are legitimate before proceeding with any investigation.
While the enforcement process relates to alleged breaches of planning permission, councillors drew a link between the rise in false complaints in enforcement cases and within the planning application stage.
Cllr Michael Burke said that anyone making an objection to a planning proposal should be required to provide contact details or a PPS number or some “proof that such a person exists”, describing some of the objections as “vexatious”.
Cllr Gerry Coyle told the meeting that one of his constituents had been named as an objector to a planning application, despite living “miles away from where the house was being built”.
He said he visited the individual in question, who confirmed they had not made the objection, and following an investigation by the council, the submission was discarded.
Cllr Coyle said the individual was shocked to learn their name had been used on a false submission.
Deputy Lawless concluded that the Bill would protect the rights of community groups to object to developments, as well as those lodging objections on behalf of residents in the area and of businesses whose interests may be affected.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.