Vol. 498 No. 4
343 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the regulations, if any, changed or utilised to allow Eircell to erect antennae or masts without planning permission; the length of time this dispensation lasts; the year this arrangement commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27830/98]
The Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1994 (Article 9(1)(b)) provided that antennae support structures, subject to certain criteria, would be exempted development for a period of six months from the coming into force of the regulations on 16 May 1994. Eircell was the only licensed mobile phone operator at that time.
The Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1997, which came into force on 13 February 1997, dealt with the position in relation to the addition of antennae for mobile telephony to existing radio masts by licensed operators. The regulations amended the existing exempted development regulations by including two new classes of exempted development, viz, the attachment to an existing radio mast of antannae for mobile telephony and the replacement of an existing mast, subject to certain conditions and undertakings. The regulations apply to all licensed mobile telephone operators.
