asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of complaints of access being denied in recent years by certain landowners to long-established rights of way to beaches around the coast; and, if so, if he will give the matter his attention.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Access to Beaches.
18.
The preservation and development of local amenities, including rights of public access, is the responsibility of the local planning authority under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963. A planning authority may include as an objective in their development plan under the Act the preservation of any existing public right of way giving access to seashore, mountain, lakeshore, riverbank or other place of natural beauty or recreational utility. Where this is done the authority must take all steps necessary to secure the objective.
A planning authority may also enter into an agreement for the creation of a public right of way over land, or may create one by order subject to a right of appeal to the Minister, and payment of compensation where appropriate. Where a public right of way is created or a provision relating to its preservation is included in a development plan the way must be maintained by the planning authority and penalties are provided on conviction for obstruction. All planning authorities have been specially exhorted to make use of these wide powers to ensure that local needs and the needs of growing tourism for access to beaches and other places of public resort are fully provided for.
What I had in mind was that, before the introduction of the Planning Act, some landowners did seal off rights of way and is there any way of getting after these now?
Yes. Planning authorities have, I think, ample powers to deal with cases like that.