Vol. 545 No. 1
253 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he is satisfied that the strategic planning guidelines, as referred to in the Planning and Development Act, 2001, have been implemented in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29626/01]
The Planning and Development Act, 2000, the relevant provisions of which commenced on 1 January 2001, now requires that planning authorities in the greater Dublin area have regard to the strategic planning guidelines when making and adopting a development plan. In accordance with its role as statutory consultee for development plans, my Department examined the draft development plan for County Meath which had been prepared during 2000 and wrote to the council in December 2000 raising a number of issues of concern in relation to compliance with the guidelines. Meath County Coun cil subsequently replied to the Department in February 2001 indicating that it would make a number of amendments to the draft development plan to bring it into line with the guidelines. My Department subsequently informed the council that its response clarified the substantive issues raised by the Department and that the amendments proposed were substantially in compliance with the strategic planning guidelines. The Meath county development plan has since been adopted.
