Vol. 465 No. 2
29 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider requiring Fingal County Council to have a full environmental impact study carried out prior to the Swords town park, near Swords Castle, being used as a building site for the proposed civic offices. [9313/96]
Under Article 116 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations 1994, an environmental impact statement must be prepared in respect of urban development projects undertaken by or on behalf of local authorities where they would involve an area of greater than two hectares within an existing urban area. The proposed office development would fall below this threshold and, having regard to the likely effects on the environment, I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to require Fingal County Council to have an environmental impact statement prepared in relation to it.
The proposed development is, of course, subject to the public notification and consultation requirements provided for in part ten of the 1994 regulations. All submissions received by Fingal County Council as part of this process will have to be taken into account by the elected members in deciding whether or not to proceed with the development.
