Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Planning Applications.

Enda Kenny

Question:

456 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether it is appropriate that people are denied the right of public representation in a formal sense to An Bord Pleanála in cases where a formal period of time for objecting or making observations to An Bord Pleanála has passed where planning applications are concerned in view of the fact that public representatives may not be notified of the particular case until after the relevant date; his views on amending the Act to cater for the right of representation and the provision of formal views on individual cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9543/02]

Enda Kenny

Question:

506 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will amend the relevant Act which set up An Bord Pleanála to the extent that public representatives should be entitled to make formal observations on planning applications which have been appealed to An Bord Pleanála, but where the interest of the individual or constituent is not made known to the public representative until after the formal objection period has passed, which currently denies a public representative the right to represent constituents in this context; his views on whether it is appropriate that, due to the fact that a constituent or appellant to An Bord Pleanála does not make their interest known to the public representative until the formal objection and observation period has passed, that they are thus denied the right of representation in the planning case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9511/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 506 together.

Section 130 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 provides that any person, other than a party to a planning appeal before An Bord Pleanála, may make a submission or observation on the appeal within a period of four weeks of the appeal being made. This time limit is designed to facilitate the board in discharging its duty to dispose of appeals as expeditiously as possible while allowing a reasonable period for persons to make submissions or observations. I have no proposals for amendment of this provision.