Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 5

Written Answers. - Local Authority Planners.

John Dennehy

Question:

307 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in view of the reported shortage of planners working with local authorities, he will have examinations made into the work content and practice of such planners to ascertain if some decisions on purely architectural features of applications for domestic dwellings, such as the size and number of windows, colour of materials used and so on, should be exempted form planning requirements as was the case with some boundary walls and house extensions previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25811/00]

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

In June this year I made the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 2000 which increased the size of exempted domestic extensions from 23 square metres to 40 square metres. This was designed to remove about 30% of planning applications for such extensions from the planning system in major urban areas to allow planners to concentrate on forward planning issues.

Under the planning system, many minor works to structures are classified as exempted development and do not normally require planning permission. Many classes of development within the curtilage of a dwelling house are also exempted development, subject to conditions.

These conditions are provided to ensure that any changes to the development do not result in any injury to the amenities of adjoining properties and are in line with the proper planning and development of the area.

My objective is an effective planning system that respects the principles of proper planning and sustainable development. I will keep the matter under consideration in the context of the comprehensive review of the exempted development regulations which is currently under way in my Department.