Billy Timmins
Question:87 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the sections of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, which remain to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15629/01]
Written Answers. - Implementation of Legislation.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:190 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if all sections of the Planning Acts have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16294/01]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 87 and 190 together.
The Planning and Development Act, 2000, was enacted on 28 August 2000. Because of the scale and complexity of the Act and the need to make regulations to give full effect to its provisions, it is necessary to commence the Act in stages. To date, I have made three commencement orders bringing a number of parts of the Act into force. These include many of the priority measures contained in the Act, such as Part II on development plans, Part V on the supply of housing, Part IX on strategic development zones, Part XIV on the acquisition of land, Part XX which amends the Roads Act, 1993, and, most recently, Part XVI on the licensing of outdoor events.
The commencement orders for the development control 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 Joint Oireachtas 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, bringing into operation the following parts: Part I, which includes the exempted development provisions; Part III on control of development; Part IV in relation to architectural heritage; Part VI on An Bord Pleanála; Part VII regarding disclosure of interests; Part VIII on enforcement; Part X which covers environmental impact assessment; Part XI in relation to development by State and local authorities; Part XII on compensation; Part XIII on amenities; Part XVII dealing with financial provisions; Part XVIII which sets out several miscellaneous provisions and Part XIX which sets out the standard provisions relating to commencement, repeals and continuance.
Following the implementation of these regulations, I intend to bring forward proposals later in the year for the implementation of the few remaining provisions of the Act, which include development on the foreshore and the control of quarries.