Vol. 538 No. 1
195 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if there are regulations in place governing the processing of planning applications by local authority employees, where the applicant may be personally known to the official dealing with the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17380/01]
196 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the regulations in place regarding Bord Pleanála officials and board members who deal with appeals where either an official or a member of the board may be personally known to the applicant, a third party making an appeal or was in a previous employment dealing with a planning application connected to an appeal; the guidelines which are issued to officials and board members regarding their conduct and obligations in any of these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17381/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together.
The provisions of section 33 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1976, set out requirements that affect members and employees of An Bord Pleanála and members and certain officers of planning authorities who have beneficial interests. There are no specific requirements in planning legislation for situations where the applicant or appellant is personally known by a member or employee of a planning authority or a board member or official of An Bord Pleanála. It is a matter for each local authority and An Bord Pleanála to have internal procedures for dealing with such cases.
Section 150 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, provides for the adoption by each planning authority, and An Bord Pleanála, of a code of conduct for dealing with conflicts of interest and promoting public confidence in the conduct of its business. It is my intention to bring section 150 into force in conjunction with the development control provisions of the Act. Compliance with such codes of conduct will be a condition of employment of officers of planning authorities and employees of the board.
