Vol. 571 No. 1
1271 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he will review regulations made by his predecessor which are being interpreted to prevent Dubliners, for example, from purchasing houses in Wicklow even though they may reside nearer to the houses for sale than those who live in other parts of Wicklow who live further away and can purchase such houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20169/03]
1298 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Wicklow County Council has refused planning permissions to residents of Dublin city and County; and his views on whether this constitutes discrimination. [20681/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1271 and 1298 together.
The strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area (1999), which were prepared by the seven local authorities concerned (Dublin City Council and Fingal, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, South Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare and Meath county councils) in conjunction with my Department, provided that development in the greater Dublin area should be consolidated in the metropolitan area, which includes Bray and a number of development centres. In County Wicklow, Wicklow town and Arklow were designated as development centres.
Outside the metropolitan area and the development centres, the strategic planning guidelines indicated that the development should be aimed primarily at meeting local needs. The relevant local authorities were required to have regard to the guidelines in preparing and adopting subsequent development plans for their areas. However, the development of detailed proposals setting out the basis on which the guidelines were to be implemented was a matter for each of the planning authorities concerned.
