asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that Dublin County Council are unable to approve of planning applications for the provision of fireplaces in houses which were built without them because reports from fire officers are not available; and if he will take steps to resolve the problem.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Planning Applications.
70.
In so far as planning requirements for the installation of fireplaces in houses which were built without them are concerned, I am not aware of any problem. As announced by me in advertisements published in the Press in March, 1974:
Where permission has already been obtained under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, for the provision of a house which does not include such a facility, the necessary work to provide for a solid fuel fireplace or stove, with chimney or flue, will be regarded as exempt development, except in cases where it would involve major alternation in design.
However, proposals for fireplaces and flues do require approval under the Dublin County Council building bye-laws and certain prefabricated chimneys with twin wall flues have been refused as the council was not satisfied that sufficient evidence was given to satisfy it that the proposals did not constitute a fire risk. I understand that the types of flues in question are being further examined by the chief fire officer in consultation with the technical officer in their building control section.
Before the Minister for Local Government departs, I should like to give notice of my intention to raise the subject matter of Questions Nos. 8 and 9 on today's Order Paper on the Adjournment due to the serious local authority housing crisis which exists in the constituency of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Due to the fact that Deputy Andrews did not ask a supplementary on those questions, he has a hard neck to raise them on the Adjournment.
That makes two hard necks.
That makes Deputy Andrews and Deputy Cunningham together.
I was doing the Minister a courtesy.
Are arrangements being made to make this information from the fire officer available? The applications I have referred to are from a private housing scheme, Springfield in Tallaght, and a big number of applications have been submitted. As a result of the information from the fire officer not being available they have been refused.
I do not wish to get Deputy Walsh confused. I have not objected, nor has my Department. Dublin County Council are objecting to the type of fireplace and chimney flue on the grounds that it does not meet their requirements. If the Deputy can iron this matter out with his county council, there will be no objection by the Department.
The Department of Local Government are involved in this with the fire officer.
We have said that they are exempted but Dublin County Council are objecting, under their bye-laws, to the type of flue on the grounds that it is a fire risk.
The Minister is still not answering the question.
Would the Deputy talk to the officials of Dublin County Council and get a solution to the problem?
I should like to ask the Minister if under the Planning Act these are exempt and do not require an application to the Planning Authority for planning permission?
The Deputy, obviously, did not hear the reply I gave.
I did but it was neither a "yes" nor a "no".
My reply stated:
Where permission has already been obtained under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, for the provision of a house which does not include such a facility, the necessary work to provide for a solid fuel fireplace or stove, with chimney or flue, will be regarded as exempt development, except in cases where it would involve major alteration in design.