Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 2

Written Answers. - Golf Course Development.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

33 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider requiring existing golf courses built without the need for planning permission to have an ecological audit carried out and, where necessary, appropriate action be taken to protect coastal areas in particular and ecological areas in general. [9312/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

Golf courses developed prior to the introduction of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1994, were considered to be exempted development. I have no power to take action of the kind referred to in the question.