Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
683. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce measures to encourage persons to keep green spaces in their gardens and discourage paving them over in order to protect local eco-systems and combat climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40422/22]
View answerThe making or varying of a county or city development plan is a reserved function of the elected members of a local authority in their capacity as a planning authority under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act). Statutory requirements governing the content and process for review of a development plan are set out in Sections 10-12 of the Act. In making a development plan, the elected members of a planning authority are restricted to considering the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the statutory obligations of any local authority in the area and any relevant policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the Government. Such policies and objectives include the national planning policies and objectives of the National Planning Framework, the regional planning policies of the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, together with associated regulations and statutory planning guidelines issued by the Minister.
In addition to section 10(2) of the Act, the First Schedule of the Act lists the purposes for which objectives may be indicated in a Development Plan including:
1. location and pattern of development,
2. control of areas and structures,
3. community facilities,
4. environment and amenities, and
5. infrastructure and transport.
Pursuant to the First Schedule, the most appropriate and proportionate means to address the any requirement for private gardens is through the development standards of each city and county development plan, which set out the requirements and standards that apply for different types of development.
