Vol. 532 No. 4
426 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the regulations regarding the procedure to be followed by local authorities in relation to the handling of objections to certain planning issues. [7813/01]
Under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1994 to 2000, any person may make submissions or observations on any particular planning application. At present, there is no specific requirement in law for a planning authority to acknowledge receipt of a particular objection.
Part III of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, which is not yet in force, provides that, in making its decision on a planning application, a planning authority must have regard to any submissions or observations made in respect of the application and any person who has made a submission or observation in accordance with the permission regulations will be entitled to appeal a decision to An Bord Pleanála. In this context, when making regulations under the Act, I will consider the question of the written acknowledgement of submissions and observations made on an application. These regulations are currently being finalised.
