asked the Minister for the Environment his Department's policy with regard to the growing problems created by continuous ribbon development outside many Irish towns; and the steps he is taking to alleviate such problems.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ribbon Development.
21.
Advice has issued from my Department from time to time to planning authorities and this has included reference to certain aspects of ribbon development, particularly the creation of traffic hazard and the adverse effect on the function of roads by reducing their capacity.
Responsibility for the proper planning and development of their areas rests, however, with the individual planning authorities. It is for each authority to set out appropriate policies in their development plan and to implement these through the operation of planning control. The majority of planning authorities do, in fact, make some provision in their development plans for the limitation or restriction of ribbon development taking into account the special position of farmers and those engaged in agriculture.
Guidelines for the preparation and review of development plans are currently being reviewed in my Department. I hope that these will be available in the near future for issue to planning authorities and that they will be of assistance in achieving orderly development of urban areas.
While a local authority may refuse permission in accordance with their development plan, the Department of the Environment—or now An Bord Pleanála—have the final say. Frequently breaches occur at that level of decision-making. Will the Minister state if his Department will issue such directions or opinions to An Bord Pleanála in order to get an overall consistent policy with regard to the granting of permissions on appeal to such applications as would constitute ribbon development?
There is a lot of sense in what the Deputy has said. Quite candidly, the Department of the Environment were a bit perturbed by the tendency of the previous Minister and An Bord Pleanála in regard to being too flexible in dealing with ribbon development. I am not making a political point when I say that. From what I can see from the file, local authorities seem to be more aware of that aspect. The Minister will bring this to the notice of people in his Department. I am glad the Deputy raised the matter. My information is that the Department of the Environment feel just as strongly about it as does the Deputy.
The Minister has not said that he will direct the Department to communicate with An Bord Pleanála. There is no point in communicating with each local authority; it has to be sent to An Bord Pleanála.
That was implied in what I said.
I would not like to take a wrong implication from what the Minister said. I might get it wrong.
The Deputy must not have listened to what I said. Of course the Minister will communicate to An Bord Pleanála what the Deputy and I have said with regard to ribbon development.
I wish to thank the Minister.