Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 28 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 5

Written Answers. - Communication Masts.

Liam Aylward

Ceist:

88 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the guidelines laid down by his Department for the siting of telecommunication masts in densely populated areas adjacent to homes, schools, hospitals and so on are being adhered to; and the steps, if any, his Department has taken to monitor the implementation of these guidelines. [12541/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

It is a matter for each planning authority to have full regard to my Department's guidelines on telecommunications antennae and support structures in the exercise of their development planning and control functions, including any subsequent monitoring of individual planning permissions granted, to ensure compliance with relevant conditions.

The guidelines relate to the provision of new masts. Under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1997, the addition of antennae for mobile telephony to an existing radio mast, and the replacement of an existing mast, are, subject to strict limitations, exempted development. These regulations give statutory support to the policy of co-location which was advocated in the guidelines to avoid unnecessary proliferation of masts. There is no information in my Department to suggest that planning authorities are not applying the guidelines to new masts.