Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
1175 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will consider the introduction of a national rural planning monitoring committee and local monitoring committees based on the group water scheme monitoring system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22828/04]
View answerMy Department has received a joint proposal from the Irish Rural Dwellers' Association and the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland regarding the establishment of a national planning monitoring committee. The functions of the proposed committee would be to advise on matters relating to planning and to monitor the implementation of Government policies and guidelines; to advise on generic problems and issues on identification by users of the system; to monitor the implementation of the development control guidelines and a proposed planning charter which it is also proposed to draft; to monitor performance standards of planning authorities as identified in their annual reports; and to advise on good planning practice. Officials in my Department will meet with representatives of the Irish Rural Dwellers' Association and the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland in the coming weeks to discuss their proposal.
My Department is already working on several initiatives to improve the performance of planning authorities in implementing the planning code. My Department has issued planning guidelines on a wide range of policy issues, including in 2004, guidelines on quarries and ancillary activities and draft wind energy development guidelines.
Consultation is also underway on proposed planning and development regulations. Those amend certain provisions of the 2001 planning regulations to provide for greater streamlining of the planning service and to introduce a standard planning application form. That should help to ensure a consistent level of service across planning authorities as well as underpinning the delivery of electronic planning. My Department is also in the process of drafting new development management guidelines which will offer guidance on best practice in processing planning applications. Performance indicators for planning authorities are also being drawn up to build on the success of the local government service indicators published earlier this year. Those initiatives should help to ensure that planning authorities deliver an efficient and customer-orientated planning system.
