Joe Higgins
Question:201 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the adoption of an integrated area plan by a local authority is an executive function or a reserved function. [12661/98]
Written Answers. - Integrated Area Plans.
Notification of a proposed framework for a new urban renewal scheme, which issued to each city and county manager on 14 May 1997, indicated that the selection and prioritisation of areas for integrated area plans and the preparation of plans for priority areas would be the responsibility of the relevant city corporation or county council. It was not indicated that such selection and prioritisation of areas and preparation of plans was to be a reserved function and, accordingly, it was a matter for each authority involved to decide on their own arrangements in this regard. However, guidelines issued by my Department provided, inter alia, that wide, cross-sectoral consultation and involvement should form an essential element in the preparation of each integrated area plan.
The statutory basis for integrated area plans is contained in the Urban Renewal Bill, 1998, which was published on 28 May 1998. The Bill, as published, does not make the function a reserved one.