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Draft Development Plan.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004

Thursday, 25 November 2004

Questions (294, 295)

Seán Ryan

Question:

294 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he received a copy of the draft development plan from Fingal County Council (details supplied) and if so, will he make a copy of the plan available to the Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas elected within the jurisdiction of Fingal County Council. [30852/04]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

296 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to revise legislation in view of the decision of the Fingal county manager not to supply a copy of the draft development plan (details supplied) to Deputies representing part of that local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30873/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 296 together.

I understand that the questions may refer to a report prepared by the Fingal County Manager, in accordance with the provisions of section 12(4) (a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, on the submissions received during the period of public consultation on the current Fingal draft development plan. Such a report would not itself form part of a draft development plan but would be submitted to members of the local authority for their consideration in connection with the making of the development plan. My Department would not normally receive copies of section 12 reports and has not done so in this instance.

On the general question of the entitlement of the parliamentary representatives to have access to certain documentation of local authorities, the Local Government Act, 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations, 2003 requires local authorities to supply or make available to relevant parliamentary representatives copies of certain specified documentation, including draft development plans and development plans. Copies of these regulations and related information note are available in the Oireachtas library. It is a matter for each local authority to implement these requirements within its own functional area in accordance with the regulations.

I recognise that these arrangements are relatively recent. My intention is that local authorities will facilitate parliamentary representatives, in the spirit and the letter of the regulations, in relation to the timely provision of local authority documentation and I intend, therefore, that the operation of the arrangements will be kept under review with a view to any necessary amendment of current guidance on these matters.

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