Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
336 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has issued a guidance note to planning authorities regarding flooding or climate change in order to assist them in the preparation of statutory development plans. [21184/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently preparing guidelines for planning authorities on development plans, which will be published in due course in draft form for public consultation. The guidelines will deal inter alia with the need for the planning system to help to ensure that existing flood risks are either reduced or addressed and that new development does not individually or cumulatively give rise to new flood risks. The identification of flood plains and areas at risk from flooding in local authority development plan will be addressed in this context.
The Planning and Development Act 2000 specifically empowers planning authorities to provide in their development plans that development in areas at risk of flooding may be regulated, restricted or controlled. If development is proposed in a flood-risk area, the risk of flooding can be carefully evaluated and planning permission refused, if necessary. These provisions came into effect on 1 January 2001.
In 2003, the EPA published comprehensive research, undertaken at NUI Maynooth, on Climate Change: Scenarios and Impacts for Ireland. This and other research specific to Ireland, and international policy analysis of the impacts of climate change through the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, will help inform long-term planning in coastal zone management, and other policy areas, to allow the expected impacts of climate change to be integrated into policy formulation and the costs of adaptation to be best managed.
Primary responsibility for national policy in relation to flooding rests with the Office of Public Works. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, established a review group under the aegis of the OPW in 2003 to devise a clearly defined and comprehensive policy approach to flooding nationally and a precise definition of the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders involved. My Department was represented on the review group as were the Departments of Finance, Agriculture and Food and Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, along with the IFA, IBEC and local authorities. I understand that the review group's report will be submitted to Government in due course.
337 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will consider issuing a guidance note to local authorities regarding the significant increase in the amount of street furniture. [21185/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 254 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 provides for a licensing system for appliances and structures, including street furniture, placed on, above, under or along a public road, including footpaths. This licensing system is intended to ensure that the authority can control appliances being placed on public roads, in particular to prevent obstructions or other hazards to persons using the public road. Therefore, in considering an application for a licence, a local authority, or An Bord Pleanála on appeal, must have regard inter alia to the convenience and safety of road users, including pedestrians. In view of the relatively straightforward notice of the above procedures, there are no proposals to issue a guidance note to local authorities especially in relation to the licensing of street furniture.
