Vol. 562 No. 1
451 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his Department proposes to take action to prevent excessive building on the flood plains and the watercourses in the Clonee-Dunboyne area, in view of the disastrous impact of flooding in the area of Dublin 15. [5194/03]
Decisions as to whether proposed development should be permitted or restricted in any particular area are a matter for the relevant planning authority. 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.
