Vol. 477 No. 5
23 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment whether delays in the planning process have been responsible for the loss of a major industry to this country; the investigations, if any, he has had carried out in this regard; and, if so, the action, if any, he proposes to take to rectify the situation. [4998/97]
There are many factors involved in the decision of industry to locate in any country; for example, the supply and cost of labour, the availability of appropriate skills, distance from markets and transport links, language, the level of grants or other fiscal incentives, etc. Ireland has been particularly successful in attracting major foreign investment in recent years.
It has not been shown that delays in the planning process in Ireland have been directly responsible for the loss of any major industry. The reforms introduced by the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1992 and the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1994 have ensured more efficient processing of both planning applications and appeals. In fact, over 93 per cent of appeals to An Bord Pleanála were determined within four months in 1996, compared with only 20 per cent in 1991.
My Department is in regular contact with the industrial development agencies regarding the operation of the planning system and all relevant aspects of the matter are kept under review. As indicated in Partnership 2000, the possibility of further changes in the system to minimise delays and uncertainties will be considered; any such changes, of course, would have to ensure a continued high level of protection for the environment and amenities, and have regard to established rights to public participation in the planning process.
