asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the inconvenience being caused to many people as a result of "take away hot food" centres operating in housing estates; and if he will review the present planning laws so as to restrict the operation of these centres in residential areas.
Written Answers. - “Take Away Hot Food” Centres.
380.
The provision of "take away hot food" centres either by way of the erection of new premises or the conversion of existing premises to such use would require planning permission. So too would the cooking and selling of food from a van placed or kept on land in a housing estate. It is a matter for the local planning authority (subject to the normal appeal process) to decide any applications for permission for such development or to take enforcement action where such development is carried on without permission. I myself am precluded by law from exercising any power or control in relation to the determination of individual planning applications or appeals. The existing planning system seems adequate to deal with the type of development referred to in the Question and there are no proposals to amend the planning law in this area. The provisions of the Casual Trading Act, 1980, would, of course, also apply to the selling of hot food on a public road in a housing estate.