asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider taking steps to amend the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 or any other relevant legislation to ensure that the replacement of any period building will feature the same architectural style as the original.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Planning and Development.
80.
I consider that the provisions of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, are adequate to enable planning authorities to deal with the problem of replacement of period buildings. A development plan can provide for the preservation of amenities and in particular for the preservation of buildings of artistic, architectural or historical interest. A planning authority cannot grant permission for a development which would contravene materially the development plan without the consent of the Minister. Furthermore, in operating their powers of planning control, a planning authority has to have regard to the proper planning and development of their area—including the preservation of its amenities; they may refuse permission for the development or attach such conditions to it as they see fit, including conditions regulating and controlling the design, colour and materials of structures.
It is within the framework of this legislation, designed to ensure the proper planning and development of each area, that the replacement of appropriate buildings should be secured rather than by a blanket provision which could operate in individual cases against sound planning.
I thank the Minister for a most comprehensive reply. Could we end the issue of the preservation of Georgiana in the city if we had a clause in legislation stating that a building must be replaced by one in the same style of architecture? It might stop the rows which are going on in the city at the moment.
I am not prepared to make a blanket provision. I have outlined in the reply that there are sufficient powers in the hands of the local planning authority to allow for the preservation of whatever area they deem fit. Such an area can be specified in the development plan for the city.