Vol. 499 No. 2
107 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to recent reports (details supplied) that the parties in the Northern Assembly look likely to propose legislation to forbid the erection of mobile telephone transmitters within 500 metres of private property; the plans, if any, he has to introduce similar legislation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2311/99]
My attention has been drawn to the report referred to.
The erection of telephone masts requires planning permission from the relevant planning authority unless exempted under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts and Regulations. I have no proposals, at present, to amend the relevant legislation.
My Department issued planning guidelines on telecommunications antennae and support structures in July 1996. These are intended to assist both planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála as well as operators of mobile telecommunications services and the general public by providing guidance on dealing with telecommunications antennae and support structures within the planning system. A copy of the guidelines is available in the Oireachtas Library. I have no proposals to amend these guidelines. I will, of course, follow with interest any initiative which the Northern Ireland Assembly may take in this area.
108 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that county council planning offices are unaware of the location of mobile phone base stations that are exempt from planning permission under S.I. No. 78 of 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2312/99]
109 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the individual or body which bears the inspection responsibility for mobile phone base stations that are exempt under S.I. No. 78 of 1997 in order to see that their installation complies with the guidelines issued in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2313/99]
110 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will report on the situation of developments exempt from planning permission under S.I. No. 78 of 1997; the body or organisation which bears ultimate responsibility for these developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2314/99]
111 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason schools and residential areas are regarded as areas of last resort under the guidelines to local authorities by his Department issued in July 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2315/99]
112 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the procedures for lodging objections by local residents to developments exempted under S.I. No. 78 of 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2316/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 to 112, inclusive, together.
Under section 8 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, a planning authority is required to keep a register in respect of all land within its functional area affected by that Act. A planning authority is not required to keep a register of exempted development – development for which planning permission is not required – and therefore would not necessarily be aware of the location of any mobile phone base stations which are exempted development under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1997 – S.I. No. 78 of 1997). Similarly there is no procedure whereby members of the public can submit comments to a planning authority on an exempted development.
