Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2008
515 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he has taken following correspondence dated 5 September 2008 (details supplied); when he will send a detailed reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39587/08]
View answerIn my role as statutory consultee in respect of draft plans and variations, my Department wrote to the Councils in question on 27 June 2008 in relation to draft Variation No. 4 to the Tullamore Town and Environs Development Plan.
In its submission, (subsequently reflected in the Manager's Report), my Department accepted that the proposed variation arose because of the requirement fully to accommodate planned growth of Tullamore as an integral part of the implementation of the Midlands Gateway under the National Spatial Strategy. In addition, my Department acknowledged that the proposed variation represented good practice in adopting both land use and master-planning approaches, and that the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) had addressed the environmental implications and options for development.
My Department also acknowledged that the flood hazard mapping exercise conducted by the planning authority with the OPW was noted in the SEA, in line with draft planning guidelines on flood risk and the planning system which were issued subsequently on 23 September 2008 for public consultation. Nonetheless, the planning authority was asked to address in more detail how flood risk should influence the selected master-planning option in the Grand Canal Quarter and the allocation of appropriate land uses.
I understand that the variation was adopted on 28 August 2008, in accordance with section 13 of the Planning and Development Act. I am satisfied that the issues identified in my statutory submission have been taken into consideration in the adoption of the variation. My Department will issue a detailed response to the correspondence concerned shortly.
