Planning Issues.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2004

Wednesday, 3 March 2004

Questions (191)

Richard Bruton

Question:

266 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the very high number of planning applications being deemed invalid since the new planning regulations have come into force; and if he has satisfied himself that the high rejection rate is genuinely in the public interest and does not represent excessive regulation in the contest of the principles of regulation set out by the recent Government strategy paper on regulation. [7189/04]

Written answers

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

The system of invalidating incomplete applications was introduced in the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 in response to complaints that a high proportion of applications for planning permission could not be processed by planning authorities because they did not comply with the requirements of the planning code. My Department is currently reviewing the regulations to ensure that they achieve the aim of streamlining the planning system without imposing unnecessary burdens on persons applying for planning permission. Arising from this review, it may be appropriate to consider some amendment of the regulations later this year.