asked the Minister for Local Government whether the terms of Circular RA 285/18 of 15th January, 1971, entitled Roadside Development—Traffic and Safety on Arterial Roads are adhered to in deciding planning appeals.
457.
Written Answers. - Planning Appeal Decisions.
456.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether planning authorities are expected to comply with the terms of Circular RA 285/18 of 15th January, 1971, entitled Roadside Development—Traffic and Safety on Arterial Roads.
458.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of planning permissions granted on appeal since 1st April, 1973, involving new means of access to both national primary and national secondary roads.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 456, 457 and 458 together.
My policy regarding planning control is set out in a circular letter dated 12th November, 1973, to local authorities. The contents of that letter are well known having received wide publicity. They indicate that while I would not apply an absolute restriction to the national primary roads I would still apply the principle of restriction to them, putting the onus on the developer to show clearly that an exception is warranted, for example, on grounds of there being infilling or there being access to a lay-by. The letter also indicated that in the case of national secondary roads and indeed other important roads, it would be for the local authority to establish an identifiable risk of accident as grounds of refusal of permission on traffic grounds.
The information sought by the Deputy in Question No. 458 is not readily available. The compilation of it would involve a detailed examination of the cases, well over 2,000, which have been decided since 1st April, 1973. I consider that this would require an unjustifiable amount of staff time, in view of the urgent need to devote all the available resources of staff for planning control to the clearance of appeals.
459.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of planning appeals granted and refused in each month since 1st April, 1973.
This reply is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to have circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Number of Planning Appeals Granted and Refused in each Month since 1st April, 1973.
|
Month |
Appeals against decisions to refuse permission or approval |
Appeals by proposers against decisions togrant permission or approval subject to conditions |
Appeals by aggrieved parties |
|||||
|
Permission or approval granted on appeal with or without conditions |
Permission or approval refused |
Permission or approval granted subject to same conditions as planning authority |
Permission or approval granted subject to revised or additional conditions |
Permission or approval refused |
Permission or approval granted in accordance with decision of the planning authority |
Permission or approval granted subject to conditions or additional or revised conditions |
Permission or approval refused |
|
|
April, 1973 |
11 |
76 |
1 |
6 |
— |
1 |
2 |
— |
|
May, 1973 |
85 |
216 |
4 |
6 |
— |
4 |
4 |
2 |
|
June, 1973 |
62 |
105 |
9 |
6 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
4 |
|
July, 1973 |
67 |
83 |
1 |
3 |
— |
9 |
10 |
2 |
|
August, 1973 |
72 |
111 |
4 |
4 |
— |
8 |
12 |
2 |
|
September, 1973 |
53 |
42 |
3 |
8 |
— |
11 |
8 |
4 |
|
October, 1973 |
107 |
112 |
2 |
6 |
— |
10 |
14 |
4 |
|
November, 1973 |
201 |
78 |
2 |
13 |
— |
10 |
18 |
1 |
|
December, 1973 |
129 |
55 |
— |
6 |
— |
5 |
7 |
2 |
|
January, 1974 |
205 |
93 |
5 |
12 |
— |
15 |
10 |
2 |
460.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of planning appeals awaiting decision in his Department on 31st January, 1974.
The number was 2,102.