Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Nov 2002

Vol. 558 No. 3

Written Answers. - Planning Regulations.

John Gormley

Question:

21 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider advising planning authorities to transpose the liable to flooding warnings from early Ordnance Survey maps on to new development plan maps. [24070/02]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

184 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the guidelines he has issued or plans to issue in regard to the effects of suburban sprawl on the built environment in the State due to increased rainfall run-off leading to flash-flooding from areas of tarmacadam or concrete or other impermeable surfaces in newly developed areas. [24068/02]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 184 together.

The Planning and Development Act, 2000 specifically empowers planning authorities to provide in their development plans that development in areas at risk of flooding may be regulated, restricted or controlled. If development is proposed in a flood-risk area, the risk of flooding can be carefully evaluated and planning permission refused, if necessary. These provisions came into effect on 1 January 2001.

My Department is currently preparing guidelines for planning authorities on development plans, which will be published in due course in draft form for public consultation. The guidelines will address,inter alia, the recommended format for maps associated with the development plan. The question of indicating areas which are liable to flooding on the development plan maps will be considered further in this context.

Question No. 22 answered with Question No. 7.