Nora Owen
Question:141 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to maintain the current regulations relating to the building of large superstores; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11025/00]
Written Answers. - Building Regulations.
In June 1998 I made a policy directive and regulations under the Planning Acts to limit the size of supermarket development to 3,000 square metres, pending the carrying out of a detailed study of retail development and the issue of planning guidelines by my Department. In April 1999 my Department published draft retail planning guidelines for public consultation. The draft guidelines recommended that, pending the preparation and adoption of development plan policies by local authorities, the floorspace cap of 3,000 square metres, which was introduced on supermarket development, should be retained in the rest of the State outside Dublin. Within the greater Dublin area, it recommended that the floorspace cap be increased to 3,500 square metres. When publishing the draft guidelines, the carrying out of a further study of the economic effect of the implementation of the guidelines was announced. This study commenced in early January and is close to completion. The results of this study will be considered with the submissions received on the draft guidelines in finalising the retail planning guidelines which I expect to issue by mid-year.