Vol. 537 No. 2
277 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the way in which he proposes to curtail planning applications for retention; when those measures will be brought into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15677/01]
The Planning and Development Act, 2000, contains significant new provisions to improve the enforcement of the planning code and to prevent the abuse of the retention permission system. In particular, an application for retention permission will no longer be a defence to a prosecution under the Act and cannot be used to stay court proceedings. In addition, fees for retention permission can be set at a significantly higher level than is the case at present.
The commencement orders for the development control and enforcement provisions of the Act will be made in tandem with the necessary regulations, some of which will require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas. I have also undertaken to bring a draft of these regulations before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government for discussion prior to formally submitting them for approval. Work on these regulations is now at an advanced stage and I propose to submit a draft for approval within the next month.
