asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the exact position concerning the draft development plan for Dublin City.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Development Plan.
101.
I have received an application from Dublin Corporation for an extension to 31st December, 1971, of the period allowed for the making of the development plan for the city. This application is at present being considered.
How many years is it since this plan was supposed to have been completed.
Under the 1963 Act each local authority was required to prepare a plan for its area. If local authorities did not succeed in doing that in the specified period, Dublin did not and many other local authorities did not, they were allowed under the Act to apply to the Minister for an extension of the time limit. This is one of the applications at present under consideration.
What was the specified period? How many years was it?
Offhand I do not know.
I am not trying to trap the Minister but I thought it was three or four years.
Yes, I think it was three years. However, if we are keen to see local democracy operate in a city like Dublin it is only fair to allow individual citizens to lodge their objections. At the moment we are going through the democratic process of hearing these objections.
102.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether, having regard to the difficulties being experienced by Dublin Corporation in making a development plan in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, he proposes to introduce legislation to amend that Act in order that a meaningful development plan can be made without further upsetting delays.
No request for legislation in this regard has been received from the planning authority. The delay in making a development plan for Dublin is not due to a defect in the 1963 Act. The revised draft development plan for the city was on public display between April and August, 1969, and the corporation received a total of 3,418 objections in regard to it. They must consider these objections before a final plan can be made and objecting ratepayers must be given an opportunity to state their objections orally if they so request.
I recently received from the corporation an application for my consent to the extension to 31st December, 1971, of the period allowed for the making of the plan, and this application is now being considered. The reason given for the application was that over 700 objections remain to be heard and this process could not be completed before the end of December, 1970, when the present extension expires. In the mean-time, regard is being had to the provisions of the draft plan in the operation of planning control and in the corporation's own development activities.
Will this plan for Dublin city ever be completed?
It is a matter for the citizens of Dublin.
The Minister has a lot to do with it.
The Deputy can be assured there will be such a plan.