asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider amending the appropriate legislation to restore to Dublin Corporation the power to control the demolition of dwelling houses in the city.
Ceistenna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Demolition of Dublin Dwellings.
15.
Under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 (Exempted Development) Regulations, 1967, made by me on 13th July last, planning control of the demolition of certain buildings, including houses, of artistic, architectural or historic interest was extended. As I have already indicated, I am considering the question of legislation to extend further the scope of controls so as to cover the demolition of habitable houses.
Seeing that demolition generally was excluded from the ambit of the planning authority's administration by ministerial order, could not the question of demolishing houses capable of providing residential accommodation be brought back within the planning authority's administration simply by an amendment of the Minister's order deleting the word "demolition" from the exclusion?
Planning authorities were at all times at liberty to control the demolition of any houses whose preservation they decided was a worthwhile planning objective.
Is it not a fact that the Minister made an order under his general powers excluding from the ordinary procedure minor alterations and added at the end of that order "or demolition"? Can he achieve the purpose he envisages simply by making an amending order deleting the word "demolition" from his own order and if he can, why will he not do it?
Because it would be ridiculous to require planning permission for all demolition.
Why?
Question No. 16.