I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 518 together.
My Department has not received communication of the nature referred to in the Question from Dublin City Council. It is a matter for individual local authorities to advance relevant development proposals for their areas as appropriate.
Specific responsibility for the planning and delivery of the North and South Fringe development rests, respectively, with Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council. Dublin City Council adopted its Dublin City Development Plan 2011-2017 and Fingal County Council adopted its Fingal Development Plan 2011-2017 both of which set out statutory objectives for the development of the North and South Fringe, respectively.
Furthermore, the North Fringe Framework Development Plan, which was prepared by Dublin City Council in 2000, sets out the objectives for the area, the site context and the urban design framework. I understand that it also continues to inform development management and planning guidance in the North Fringe area. A North Fringe Cross-Authority Forum established in 2004 continues to monitor progress in the implementation of the North Fringe Framework Development. Meetings continue to be held on a cross-authority basis at which a wide range of issues relating to the planning and delivery of the North Fringe development are discussed and actions taken.
One of the main benefits of designation of an area as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) is the co-ordinated planning and development of undeveloped sites on the basis of a planning scheme made by the local authority, with a good degree of certainty on the exact type and nature of development that will take place.
On the basis of the good ongoing cooperation within the statutory framework of the existing development plans I do not believe that an SDZ would be the appropriate vehicle to deliver on areas such as the North and South Fringe. The adopted development plans are in place to guide considerable development and continue to be the basis against which planning permissions and ancillary development are considered.