Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 October 2006
195 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the role and function of An Taisce in relation to the planning process; the way the body is structured; the membership and funding of same; the decision making process and to whom it is accountable; if he has satisfied himself regarding its role in the planning process; and the legislative proposals he has to change this in the future. [31454/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 33 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that regulations regarding applications for permission may be made requiring, inter alia, that planning authorities must notify prescribed bodies of the receipt of certain classes of development. Article 28 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 includes An Taisce in the list of bodies prescribed for this purpose. An Taisce is given notice of planning applications only in circumstances where it appears to the planning authority that the proposed development might impact on matters such as areas of special amenity, protected structures, National Monuments and nature conservation.
An Taisce is an independent, voluntary, non-governmental organisation and is responsible for regulating its own activities. I have no responsibility or detailed information regarding its membership nor its financing.
My Department provides grant aid to An Taisce under a number of initiatives, namely administration expenses of the Blue Flag Scheme in Ireland (€94,096 for the operation in 2005), a Clean Coast awards scheme (€5,000 in 2005), an An Taisce–led anti-litter initiative National Spring Clean (€324,448 in 2005), and core funding of €7,531 in 2005, which was paid through the Environmental (Ecological) Non-Governmental Organisations Core Funding Ltd.
As Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I will keep the Regulations, including the list of prescribed bodies, under continual review, to ensure that they deliver an effective and efficient planning service leading to quality planning decisions. I will see that any necessary changes to support this outcome are addressed on a timely basis.
