Vol. 566 No. 5
124 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if guidelines have been issued to local authorities in respect of the conduct of elected members of the authority and officials of the local authorities in respect of current planning applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13282/03]
Since the enactment of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the making of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, guidance notes have issued to planning authorities by my Department on the implementation of the legislation. These included advice on the making of submissions by public representatives in relation to planning appli cations and the payment of the appropriate fee. Further guidelines on development control will be issued by my Department in the coming year, having regard to the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
As regards codes of conduct, a comprehensive new ethics framework for local authority members and staff has been provided in the Local Government Act 2001 and came into operation on 1 January 2003. This framework will be further reinforced by separate statutory codes of conduct for staff and councillors of local authorities. These are currently being prepared and drafts will be available later this year.
