Vol. 474 No. 8
83 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment whether he will permit any further derogation from the planning process for Eircell or Esat Digifone in view of the behaviour of both companies at a site in Sutton Park, Dublin 13. [4106/97]
All development, except development specifically exempted under the planning Acts or regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 sets out certain development which is to be regarded as exempted development and it enables the Minister for the Environment to provide, by regulations, that any class of development is to be exempted development.
The Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1997 which I made and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas yesterday, provide that, with effect from today and subject to strict limitations, the addition of antennae for mobile telephony to an existing radio mast, and the replacement of an existing mast, are to be exempted development.
These new regulations give statutory support to the policy of co-location which was advocated in the Guidelines on Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures published by my Department last July, to avoid unnecessary proliferation of masts. Sharing of masts reduces the number required and minimises the impact on the environment and landscape.
