Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 1997

Vol. 474 No. 1

Written Answers. - Planning Laws.

Noel Treacy

Question:

114 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for the Environment the reason neither himself nor his Department have taken any action to sustain planning law in this country, in view of the fact that a company (details supplied) in Dublin 2 has breached the planning laws on a number of occasions in County Galway; the action, if any, he proposes to take; the action, if any, which he proposes to be taken by other agencies; the role of his Department and the Government in protecting the rights of individuals and ensuring the laws pertaining to his Department and its legislation are adhered to. [2566/97]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

Where development, which is not exempted development, takes place without planning permission, it is a matter for the local planning authority to consider what enforcement actions should be taken by them. It has never been the practice for the Minister to issue directions to planning authorities in this matter. Complaints about lack of enforcement should therefore be pursued with the relevant planning authority, at official level or through the elected members.