asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if instructions were issued to the Cavan County Manager in regard to the insertion of advertisements under the Town Planning Act; if he is aware that the advertisements concerning the Cavan Urban District Town Planning Scheme were not ordered for publication in the newspaper printed in the town of Cavan; and whether he has satisfied himself that confining these advertisements to the Dublin Press is sufficient publication to the prospective builders, landowners, general public, or the ratepayers who must bear the cost of the scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cavan Advertisements.
The Town and Regional Planning Act, 1934, and regulations made thereunder, provide that notices in relation to the making of a planning scheme should be published at least once in each of two successive weeks in three newspapers, of which at least one is a daily newspaper circulating in the planning district of the local authority concerned. Subject to compliance with these requirements, the arrangements for publication of the notices are a matter for the planning authority. Other than making the regulations under the Town and Regional Planning Act, 1934, and the issue of a general circular explaining the terms of the Act and regulations, no further instructions as to the procedure which should govern the issue of advertisements were issued to local authorities. It was stressed, however, in the circular how important it was for the local authority, in the making of a planning scheme, to get the public generally to understand the nature and purpose of the scheme and to secure the full co-operation of all interested parties, particularly the owners of land, those engaged in transport, in private building, and in commerce and industry generally, and also organisations and agencies engaged in social welfare, education, and the provision of recreational facilities.
In view of the latter part of the Minister's reply, will he take some steps to see that this town planning scheme will be published for the benefit of the people of the town of Cavan in the paper which circulates in that town?
I have no statutory authority to do that.
But the Minister has said in the latter part of his answer that it was stated in his circular that it was essential in the interests of town planning to get the public to understand the nature and purpose of this scheme.
The only thing I have power to do is to enforce the statutory provisions and the statutory provisions are to the effect that the planning scheme is to be published at least once in each of two successive weeks in three newspapers—whether local or national it does not say—at least one of which is a daily newspaper circulating in the planning district of the local authority concerned. I have no further right to interfere with the local authority.
Will the Minister then explain to the House why he thought it necessary to issue the circular to which he refers and why he thought it necessary to quote part of that circular in the reply he has given in the House?
I do not think I could answer that question. If the reasons are not apparent to the intelligence of the Deputy, I am afraid I cannot help him.
The Minister thought it necessary in the interests of the scheme to issue a special circular, emphasising that it was desirable that any change in the planning or, in fact, anything in connection with town planning, should be brought to the notice of the people immediately concerned. The Minister has thought it necessary in his reply to-day to quote from that circular which was sent to the authorities concerned. Will he now say why he thought it necessary in the first place to issue the circular, why he thought it necessary to quote from it to-day and why he refused to take any steps to have the procedure mentioned in that circular carried into effect?
The Chair is concerned to see that a Minister is only asked to reply to question regarding matters for which he is statutorily responsible. I accept the Minister's assurance that, as regards the insertion of the advertisement in a local paper, he has no responsibility.
May I ask then why he issued a circular dealing with this matter?
That is a separate question.
And why he quoted from the circular in his reply to-day?
That is a terrible display of ignorance on Deputy Morrissey's part.
That is ideal. The Minister has got commendation from the one part of the House from which he might be expected to get it.