Vol. 417 No. 5
279 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to encourage local authorities to speed up the decision on planning applications; the proposals, if any, he has to amend the planning legislation in connection with the two months process period for planning applications and the manner in which local authorities seek further information; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department issued a circular to planning authorities last January asking them, inter alia, to make it their objective to decide planning applications within the statutory two month period and only in exceptional circumstances to seek further information. Where such further information is necessary, planning authorities were asked to seek it as soon as possible after the receipt of application and to decide the application, as far as possible within one month of receipt of such further information.
I have no proposals at present for an amendment of the statutory period for determining a planning application. I will, however, be monitoring the response to the January circular and will, if necessary, bring forward further measures to speed up the processing of applications at local level.
