Rights of Way

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018

Tuesday, 24 July 2018

Ceisteanna (2754)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

2754. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the planning authorities have taken steps to comply with section 10(2)(o) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended regarding the need for the planning authorities to mark public rights of way on development plan maps; the authorities which have not in tabular form; his plans to issue a ministerial direction to planning authorities to ensure compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34831/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

As the Deputy will be aware, the making and varying of a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members of the planning authority for the area.

My Department’s Circular Letter PL 9/2012 of 25 October 2012 to all planning authorities sets out their statutory obligations under Section 7 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, in relation to the mandatory objective in development plans for the preservation of public rights of way.

In this regard, it is a matter for local authorities to implement such policies in the context of their development plans and my Department does not have the data requested in the question. As a statutory consultee, my Department, on receipt of any draft development plan, provides the planning authority with advice and comments, as appropriate, on the draft plan and which may refer, inter alia, to matters relating to rights of way, in accordance with Section 10(2). Through this process, my Department has been able to see the progressive adoption by planning authorities of this objective since 2012.