Billy Timmins
Question:28 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to update the strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31091/01]
Written Answers. - Planning Regulations.
The strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area, which were published on 25 March 1999, are assigned to provide a long-term strategic planning framework for the development of the greater Dublin area. They were commissioned by the Dublin and mid-east regional authorities and their constituent local authorities. The question as to whether any change should be made to the strategic planning guidelines is primarily one for the Dublin and mid-east regional authorities.
The Planning and Development Act, 2000, the relevant provisions of which were commenced on 1 January 2001, requires that where a regional authority has made regional planning guidelines, it shall, not later than six years after the making of such guidelines and not less than once in every period of six years thereafter, review such guidelines and when so reviewing, it may revoke the guidelines or make new regional planning guidelines. I anticipate that the guidelines may need to be reviewed when the proposed national spatial strategy, which is now being finalised, has been published.
The future arrangements for strategic land use planning in the greater Dublin area are being considered in the context of legislation being prepared in relation to the institutional arrangements for land use and transport in the area. The legislation will take account of the submissions received in response to a consultation paper published in March 2001.