Vol. 464 No. 3
150 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the plans, if any, he has to bring in regulations or legislation requiring that broadcast and communication companies share mast facilities in order to minimise the proliferation of these structures. [8240/96]
The question of responsibility for planning and related aspects is clearly a matter for the Minister for the Environment.
The provision of communications masts is subject to planning approval. I am informed that the planning authorities may impose whatever conditions they see as necessary in accordance with their powers and obligations under the Planning and Development Acts and that, to assist them in this, the Minister for the Environment has issued draft guidelines in relation to planning applications for communications infrastructure which cover a number of issues including the question of promoting sharing of facilities and clustering.
I have taken the step of writing to each of the relevant bodies under the aegis of my Department requesting that they facilitate as far as possible all requests for sharing of mast facilities. I have also requested my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, to make a similar request of the relevant bodies under the aegis of his Department. It should be noted that the sharing of facilities is not always possible due to structural, technical and capacity planning reasons. I am confident, however, that, where possible, all relevant bodies will co-operate in this without the necessity to introduce further regulation.
