Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Jul 1998

Vol. 493 No. 4

Written Answers. - Urban Renewal Schemes.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

135 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that members of his expert advisory panel on urban renewal do not have a conflict of interests in terms of the advice they offer to him regarding proposals submitted to his Department for integrated area plans and the new urban renewal scheme. [16512/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

The role of the expert advisory panel established in October 1997 in relation to the new urban renewal scheme is as follows:

(1) To advise the Minister in relation to—

—the criteria to be provided to local authorities to assist them in identifying priority areas for the purposes of the scheme, and

—guidelines on the content of integrated area plans to be prepared for the priority areas.

(2) To assess completed integrated area plans and assist in the making of recommendations by the Minister in relation to the proposals for designation which are contained in those plans.

Arrangements were put in place on the inception of the panel for members to declare any material interest they may have in relation to any integrated area plan prepared under the new scheme or in relation to any specific project for an area considered by a local authority for designation. A record of any such interests is being kept. The panel's own rules exclude any member from taking part in the consideration of any plan in respect of which they have a declared interest.