I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 24 together.
Section 33 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that regulations regarding applications for permission may be made requiring, inter alia, that planning authorities must notify prescribed bodies of the receipt of certain classes of development. Article 28 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 lists the bodies prescribed for this purpose. An Taisce is given notice of planning applications only in circumstances where it appears to the planning authority that the proposed development might impact on matters such as areas of special amenity, protected structures, national monuments and nature conservation. The current list of bodies prescribed for the purposes of planning applications is kept under review.
An Taisce is an independent voluntary body whose financing, through membership subscriptions and otherwise, is properly a matter for itself. In 2001, my Department agreed to pay An Taisce an annual grant of €69,836 for the three year period 2001-2003 to assist it in its role as a prescribed body under planning legislation. There was no commitment to a continuation of this funding and there is no provision in my Department's Vote to provide similar funding in 2004.
My Department provides grant aid to An Taisce under a number of initiatives, namely administration expenses of the blue flag scheme in Ireland — €75,156 in 2003; an An Taisce led anti-litter initiative national spring clean — €250,000 in 2003; local agenda 21 from the environmental partnership fund — €6,875 in 2003 and core funding of €1,000 in 2003. In addition, An Taisce was given financial assistance of €500 in 2003 towards anti-litter advertising.