asked the Minister for the Environment the action he proposes to take to advise local authorities throughout the country, who will have responsibility for administering the Planning and Development Acts, 1963 and 1976, on the provision whereby planning permissions which have a life of five years will automatically wither; if he will clarify the position so that local planning officers and their staff will be able to indicate clearly the procedures whereby the holders of such permissions will be officially informed; and if he will make a statement on how he sees this section of the legislation being administered by the various planning authorities throughout the country.
Written Answers. - Planning Permissions.
160.
Section 29 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1976 provides for the withering of planning permissions five years after the date of the coming into operation of the section, that is, 1 November, 1976, and in the case of permissions granted after that date, five years from the date of the granting of the permission. Planning permissions granted before 1 November 1976 will not expire until 1 November 1981 and the issue of any guidelines for local authorities that may be necessary is currently under examination in my Department.