Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 3

Written Answers. - Communications Masts.

John McGuinness

Question:

332 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will issue special guidelines to An Bord Pleanála requesting it to observe the county development plans in each county and, in particular, in relation to the erection of masts; if so, if these guidelines will outlaw masts in scenic areas, areas of population, amenity areas, areas of special protection and other locations, for example, schools, hospitals and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11650/98]

John McGuinness

Question:

334 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the procedure to be followed by either Esat or the various Garda stations in making applications for new masts or the use of masts; and the way in which the public can object to these developments. [11667/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 334 together.

All development requires planning permission unless specifically exempted under the Planning Acts and regulations. Under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1997, both the addition of antennae for mobile telephony to an existing radio mast and the replacement of an existing mast by licensed operators are, subject to certain criteria, restrictions on the size, number and type of mobile phone antennae and compliance with certain emission standards, exempted development.

Except in the case of exempted development, a person wishing to erect a new mast or attach antennae to an existing mast must obtain planning permission from the relevant planning authority and anyone may comment on that application. The decision of the planning authority may also be appealed to An Bord Pleanála either by the applicant or by a third party or both. In considering appeals against decisions by planning authorities to grant or to refuse planning permission, An Bord Pleanála is restricted to considering the proper planning and development of the area of the authority, including the preservation and improvement of the amenities thereof, regard being had to the provisions of the development plan and the provisions of any special amenity area order relating to the said area. While, the board may grant a planning permission for a development which would contravene materially a development plan, in practice such decisions are rare.

The procedures in Part XIII of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1994, apply to development for the purposes of or in connection with the operations of An Garda Síochána. This procedure provides for public consultation involving the publication of a newspaper notice, erection of a site notice and the making available for public inspection of a document describing the development, a location map and plans or drawings describing the external appearance of the proposed development. In deciding whether a proposed development is to be carried out, regard must be had to any submissions or observations made.

My Department issued guidelines on telecommunications antennae and support structures in July 1996. These are intended to assist both planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála as well as operators of mobile telecommunications services and the general public by providing guidance on dealing with telecommunications antennae and support structures within the planning system. A copy of the guidelines is available in the Oireachtas Library. I have no proposals to issue additional guidelines to the board.