Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 3

Written Answers. - Retail Development.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

100 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has undertaken any inquiry to determine whether any person was involved in passing on information to a person (details supplied) regarding his proposed decision in June 1998 to cap the size of supermarkets, having regard to the claim by this person that the information had been communicated to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20080/00]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

124 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the discussions the Government had with, or representations it received from, persons (details supplied), in 1998 in connection with Government proposals to cap supermarket sizes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20081/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 124 together.

As the Deputy is aware, in June 1998 I made the Local Government (Planning and Development) General Policy Directive (Shopping), 1998, setting a 3,000 square metre net retail floorspace cap on supermarkets. I also made planning regulations to provide that a change of use of any premises to a supermarket exceeding 3,000 square metres net retail floorspace would require planning permission. In addition, given the complexity of the issues involved, I announced the commissioning of a study to examine the relevant issues in an Irish context with a view to preparing comprehensive planning guidelines on retail development.

The question of such a moratorium on retail development was the subject of widespread debate and speculation at that time including reference to different specific floor area limits. In all these circumstances, the question of any communication of a proposed decision would not constitute a matter requiring further inquiry.

With regard to representations, I received two representations from the first-named person and one representation from the second-named person. The persons making these representations copied their letters to the Taoiseach. I spoke to the first person named by the Deputy and suggested that he contact the Department formally, which he subsequently did. These representations were among a large number of representations I received at the time on retail development and planning.

The study and the draft retail planning guidelines subsequently prepared by the consultants Roger Tym & Partners confirmed the appropriateness of the 3,000 square metre net cap in all of the State except Dublin, where the consultants recommended the cap be increased to 3,500 square metres. At the time of publication of the draft guidelines in April 1999, I announced that a further study on the economic impact of implementation of the draft guidelines would be commissioned. This further study by Goodbody Economic Consultants showed that economies of scale in the food retail sector were exhausted at a store size of 2,000 square metres and that the implementation of the caps will have no direct effect on retailing costs.