asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the planning Department of Dublin Corporation have refused to sanction permission for the erection of bus shelters which carry commercial advertisements in certain urban areas; and if he will direct that such permission be granted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Bus Shelters.
33.
I have no function in relation to a decision made by a planning authority on an application to them for planning permission save in a case where an appeal is made to me under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 against the decision of the planning authority. There are no appeals relating to the erection of bus shelters in Dublin city before my Department at the moment.
Is the Minister aware that a certain firm erect and maintain a certain type of bus shelter free for Córas Iompair Éireann. CIE erect no other type of shelter but this one, which is erected and maintained free. The result is that anywhere planning permission is not granted for this type of shelter the residents have to do without one. The reason given by Dublin Corporation is that this type of shelter interferes with the aesthetic amenities of the area. Have those people any remedy whereby they can get shelters erected?
I do not know how accurate the Deputy's statement is but I see here in supplementary information that CIE have been quite active in providing bus shelters in Dublin. As a matter of fact between February, 1971, and February, 1972, 72 applications to erect bus shelters in various locations throughout Dublin city were made by CIE to the planning authority. Of these 48 were granted permission, 13 were refused, two were the subject of a request for additional information, which was not subsequently furnished by CIE, and nine of them are still under consideration. None of them came to me by way of appeal in that period.
Is the Minister aware that a false impression can be got from this? The local authority approve of shelters subject to certain conditions. If they are not the type of shelter erected and maintained free, CIE do not erect them.
It is a matter for the local planning authority.