Vol. 534 No. 2
51 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will list those parts or sections of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, that have still to be implemented; the reason they have not been implemented; when the licensing system for outdoor events, provided for under the Act, will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10131/01]
The Planning and Development Act, 2000, was enacted on 28 August 2000. Due to the scale and complexity of the Act, and the need to make regulations that would give full effect to its provisions, it is necessary to commence the Act in stages. To date I have made two commencement orders bringing a number of parts of the Act into force on 1 November 2000 and 1 January 2001. These include many of the priority measures contained in the Act such as Part II on development plans, Part V on the supply of housing, Part IX on strategic development zones, Part XIV on the acquisition of land and Part XX which amends the Roads Act, 1993.
Regulations under Part XVI, relating to the licensing of outdoor events, are close to finalisation and will be submitted as soon as possible to the Houses of the Oireachtas for approval.
The commencement orders for the development control provisions of the Act will be made in tandem with the necessary regulations, some of which will require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas. Work on these regulations is now at an advanced stage and I propose to submit a draft for approval before the end of the month, bringing into operation the following parts: Part I, which includes the exempted development provisions; Part III on control of development; Part IV in relation to architectural heritage; Part VI on An Bord Pleanála; Part VII regarding disclosure of interests; Part VIII on enforcement; Part X which covers environmental impact assessment; Part XI in relation to development by State and local authorities; Part XII on compensation; Part XIII on amenities; Part XVII dealing with financial provisions; Part XVIII which sets out several miscellaneous provisions; and Part XIX which sets out the standard provisions relating to commencement, repeals and continuance.
Following the implementation of these regulations, I intend to bring forward proposals later in the year for the implementation of the few remaining provisions of the Act, which includes development on the foreshore and the control of quarries.
