Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2017
267. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on statements made by Kerry County Council in the planning zoning document, Landscape Character Assessment of Kerry, that the majority of landscapes in north County Kerry are not important for scenery, tourism or recreation (details supplied). [43987/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal Authorities are responsible for their own local Landscape Character Assessments. Landscape Character Assessment is a tool for identifying the features that give a locality its particular ‘sense of place’ and is used to categorise the landscape into areas of similar character. It is not a value assessment on any particular landscape.
Arising from Ireland’s ratification of the European Landscape Convention I launched the National Landscape Strategy for Ireland 2015-2025 in May 2015. Copies are available on my Department’s website.
The Strategy is to be implemented in two phases. The key action in Phase one, as set out in the Implementation Programme, will be the preparation of a National Landscape Character Assessment (NLCA). My Department is currently preparing tender documentation for the NLCA. The NLCA will be an important tool to provide data and objective information required to evaluate the current state of the landscape and to underpin effective spatial planning and landscape-centred decision making.
The primary role of planning authorities and the consultative roles of other bodies and persons in decision-making relating to landscape issues will continue to be governed by the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). One of the objectives of the National Landscape Strategy will be to assist in the achievement of greater consistency in decision making when dealing with issues of landscape via the landscape character assessment process, within City and County Development Plans, at local government level.
