Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 4

Written Answers. - Use of Deferral Procedure.

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

54 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for the Environment the number of occasions on which local authority planning offices seek further information which extends the period within which they are statutorily required to decide planning applications; if he is concerned at excessive use of this procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

The quarterly statistics compiled by my Department on the basis of returns from local authorities, and of which copies are available in the Oireachtas Library, suggest that about 70 per cent of all planning decisions are decided within the statutory period of two months.

I would, of course, be concerned if there were unwarranted use of the deferral procedure. The position is actively and regularly monitored by my Department and local authorities have been urged on several occasions, in the interests of job creation, etc., to make it their objective to decide the maximum number of applications within the two month period and to seek further information only in exceptional circumstances.