Vol. 471 No. 5
45 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, he intends to take in view of the decision by Fingal County Council to rezone land in Swords, County Dublin, when, as advised by council planners, there is insufficient sewerage capacity in place and the old treatment plant is causing odour problems. [20755/96]
In adopting the Dublin County Development Plan 1993, the council decided that a draft variation of the plan, as it affects the Swords area, should be prepared by Fingal County Council. The rezoning now being proposed by that council, and a variation adopted in November 1995 in relation, inter alia, to the location of the council headquarters in Swords, derive from that decision.
The council has now completed its consideration of the observations received on the draft variation and has proposed various amendments. It is understood that the proposed amendments will shortly go on public display for a one month period, in accordance with the provisions of section 21 A of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963. Following this period, it will be a matter for the council to consider any observations received on the proposed amendments before deciding whether to adopt the variation.
It has been the policy of successive Governments that local councils and the public they represent are generally in a better position than central government to decide on the details of land use in their areas. However, the Minister has already made it clear that he will not be influenced by excessive zoning in determining priorities for the allocation of funding for infrastructural services. In the light of a Supreme Court judgment some months ago, local authorities have been reminded of the need to have regard to the adequacy of existing and prospective sewerage infrastructure in preparing and adopting their development plans.
