Vol. 519 No. 7
26 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will make a statement on his recently published draft guidelines for planning authorities on child care facilities; when it is expected that the guidelines will come into full operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14718/00]
I published the draft guidelines for planning authorities on child care facilities on 17 May 2000. The draft guidelines are intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country to the treatment of planning applications for child care facilities. They will also assist planning authorities in their efforts to make suitable provision for child care in their development plans. The draft guidelines do not, however, relate to child minding, which is generally a small scale, home-based economic activity and does not generally require planning permission.
The draft guidelines have been issued for a two month public consultation period until 21 July 2000. All interested parties have been invited to submit any comments they may have to my Department. All submissions received will be taken into consideration before a final version of the guidelines issues as soon as possible thereafter. However, in view of the urgency of the need for additional child care facilities, I have asked local authorities to take the draft guidelines on board from now on both in reviewing development plans and in exercising planning control functions.
