Vol. 528 No. 1
282 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the plans submitted to the expert panel (town renewal scheme) on 27 June 2000 are legally binding; and the way in which the panel was in a position to make an informed decision on the Kanturk town renewal scheme application when information submitted by Cork County Council was both erroneous and incomplete. [29516/00]
The legal basis for the administration of the town renewal scheme is provided in the Town Renewal Act, 2000. Detailed guidelines on the town renewal scheme were issued to county councils in July 1999, and these set out the objectives of the scheme, the criteria for the selection of appropriate towns, the criteria for the preparation of town renewal plans in those towns, detailed advice on planning and design considerations as well as advice on partnership, co-operation and consultations with relevant interests. The functions of a county council provided for under the Town Renewal Act, 2000, are not reserved functions.
Town renewal plans submitted to the Minister by county councils were examined by an expert panel, established by the Minister to assist him in the performance of his functions under the Act. The panel exercised an independent role in assessing the plans submitted and in making recommendations on the sites to be designated. In a number of cases, including the case of the town renewal plans submitted by Cork County Council, the expert panel sought clarifications and additional information from the relevant councils to enable recommendations to be made. In each case, including the case of Kanturk, the expert panel made an informed decision on the basis of all the information and proposals submitted by the county council.
