Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
824. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the practice of deeming online planning observations invalid in cases in which an address has not been provided; and if not, if he will engage with An Bord Pleanála to find ways to make this requirement more explicit on its online submission system. [20765/21]
View answerGuidance on how to make an observation on a planning appeal to An Bord Pleanála is available at https://www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/observation-on-a-planning-appeal/making-an-observation-on-a-planning-appeal.
A person making an observation on an appeal to the Board may use the Observation on a Planning Appeal form available at the above URL or alternatively submit the observation in writing (typed or handwritten), clearly stating their name and address in either scenario. Where a planning agent is acting on behalf of the person, the agent must clearly state their own name and address as well as their client's name and address.
The Board introduced an online facility to accept public observations or submissions in respect of Strategic Housing Development (SHD) applications with the required fee in November 2020 which is currently in operation for those cases only. Article 302 of the Planning and Development (Strategic Housing Development) Regulations 2017 sets out the regulatory provisions relating to the making of observations or submissions on SHD applications which require that an address shall be provided with any such observations or submissions.
Guidance on making online observations on SHD applications is available on the Board's website at https://www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/observation-on-a-shd-application-public which advises that the person must indicate their name and address when making an observation on such applications. The Board is currently assessing the online facility on its website in this regard in the context of making this requirement more explicit.
