Vol. 522 No. 4
35 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he expects to receive the completed report from consultants on the likely impact of the draft retail planning guidelines on competition within the retail sector; if the report of the consultants will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18640/00]
153 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if in the light of recommendations from independent planning experts (details supplied) he is now of the view that the current retail planning guidelines which govern the square footage of shops such as hardware stores be retained in their existing form in the interest of maintaining a diversity of shops as well as competitive prices, and a well tailored service within the community. [16406/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 153 together.
In April 1999, I published draft retail planning guidelines for public consultation. The draft guidelines and a more detailed study on retail development in Ireland were prepared by the consultants referred to by the Deputy. 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. The draft guidelines recommended that a floorspace cap of 6,000 square metres should apply to retail warehouses, i.e. large stores specialising in the sale of household goods such as carpets, furniture and bulky DIY items.
When publishing the draft guidelines, the carrying out of a further study of the economic effect of the implementation of the guidelines was announced. I expect very shortly to receive the completed report from the consultants on the likely impact of the implementation of the draft retail planning guidelines on competition within the Irish retail sector, the supply of products to consumers at lower prices, consumer choice and the supplier base. This report has been jointly commissioned by my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The report will be published and the results of this study will be considered along with the submissions received on the draft guidelines before I publish the guidelines in final form.
