Vol. 572 No. 3
498 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government his plans to put in place a review of the retail planning guidelines; the timeframe in which such a review will take place; the parameters of such a review; and if he is contemplating changes in the law in relation to retail planning guidelines. [22899/03]
On 19 August 2003 I announced a limited review of the retail planning guidelines, to focus on the floor-space cap on retail warehouses contained in the guidelines. The guidelines currently prescribe a maximum floor area of 6,000 sq. m. for gross retail floor-space for large-scale single retail warehouse development. This cap is now being reviewed, taking account of the need to ensure effective competition in this sector of retailing and ongoing developments in retail formats, while ensuring proper planning and sustainable development. Central to this review will be the potential impact of the national spatial strategy on the guidelines and the need to ensure that cities and towns have the range of retail facilities that supports their attractiveness and competitiveness for investment and population growth.
To assist in carrying out the review, I invited interested parties to make submissions to my Department. The closing date for receipt of submissions was 3 October 2003. It is now my intention to assess all submissions received and these will be fully taken into account in considering further whether any changes are needed in the guidelines.
499 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his Department at any level, has had talks with representatives of a company (details supplied), received representations from them either by phone, fax or e-mail or had contact with the organisation in any form since he was appointed; and if so, the form these contacts took. [22900/03]
In view of an indication that the company referred to by the Deputy had expressed an interest in entering the Irish market, I and officials of my Department took the opportunity, during the course of a visit to Scotland last February for a meeting with my housing and planning counterpart, the Scottish Minister for Social Justice, to visit one of the stores operated by this company, accompanied by some of its senior managers.
I subsequently received a letter dated 20 February 2003 from the company's UK property manager, which again stated the company's interest in setting up a store in Ireland. I replied by way of a letter dated 17 April 2003, which conveyed that I was in the course of putting arrangements in place for a review of the retail planning guidelines, which were introduced in 2000, and that there would be opportunity to make submissions in this regard in due course. I received a further letter from the company dated 12 May 2003, which acknowledged receipt of my letter. On 2 July 2003, officials from my Department held a meeting with a small team of executives from the company at their request. The Department officials advised the company that while the initiation of the review of the guidelines had been announced, its exact format and scope remained to be determined.
