Vol. 545 No. 4
285 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his proposals to introduce a charge for members of the public to be allowed to make submissions to local authorities in respect of planning applications. [30423/01]
Section 246 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, provides for the making of regulations relating to fees payable to planning authorities. Such regulations may provide for the payment to planning authorities of fees in relation to the making of submissions or observations in respect of applications for permission. Under draft regulations which I am now finalising, a fee is proposed to be charged to all persons, other than the applicant or prescribed bodies, who make a written submission or observation on a planning application. The fee is intended to contribute toward the enhanced service to be provided by planning authorities to persons who make submissions, as required under the new Act and the regulations. I have repeatedly emphasised that this charge would not be set at such a level as to deter any person or body who has genuine concerns in relation to a planning application. Therefore, the proposed fee is being fixed at 20.
