Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Objections.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

140 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of objections lodged by her Department or other bodies under the aegis of her Department in respect of various developments here with particular reference to road works; if consultations have been entered into in regard to any or all of these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25613/00]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

Under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1994-99, planning authorities are obliged to notify certain prescribed bodies of planning applications received by them, depending on the impact of the proposed development on the remit of the body concerned. My Department, as the State authority charged with the protection and conservation of the nation's natural and built heritage, is one of the prescribed bodies. Where such applications are referred to my Department, they are assessed by Dúchas, the Heritage Service of my Department, and, where necessary, a submission is made to the planning authority.

Between 1 January and 3 November this year, my Department received 6,300 such planning and development notifications. Some 129 objections were lodged with planning authorities in the same period. Having made such recommendations, it becomes a matter for the planning authority to determine the application under the local government (planning and development) code and neither my Department nor I is party to such decision-making process. None of the 129 objections related to road works.

In general where my Department has concerns about the impact of such proposals on the built and natural heritage, it will endeavour to have such concerns addressed at the pre-planning stage of the proposed development. Many proposed developments are discussed with my officials in advance and this has given the opportunity to provide advice at an early stage to balance development with conservation. Very few applications, about 2%, which would impact significantly on the built and natural heritage are opposed and this pre-application consultation mechanism can help avoid delay. The volume of referrals by planning authorities has grown from 2,700 in 1995 to 7,700 in 1999 and it is not possible to have consultations in all cases.

I should also state that a code of practice has been agreed between my Department and the National Roads Authority relating to the protection of archaeological sites in the context of its road development programme.

The question of objections by bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the intended bodies concerned.