Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
326. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of recommendations pertaining to county development plans that have been issued to him from the Office of the Planning Regulator, per local authority in tabular form; the number of these recommendations that have been acceded to; the number that have not been acceded to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53450/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its establishment in April 2019, the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has assessed and evaluated twenty-two city and county development plans to adoption stage. Of these twenty-two plans, fourteen have been the subject of a notice letter under Section 31AM(8) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended from the Office recommending that I issue a draft Direction. I have issued all these draft directions.
The table below lists the Local Authorities where the OPR have issued a notice letter to issue a draft Direction and the list of Local Authorities to which I have issued a Final Direction.
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- |
|
|
Local Authority (LA) OPR Notice Letter Recommending Draft Direction |
Local Authority (LA) Final Direction Issued By Minister |
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Donegal County Council |
Meath County Council |
|
Kerry County Council |
Laois County Council |
|
Mayo County Council |
Galway County Council |
|
Cork City Council |
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
|
South Dublin County Council |
Westmeath County Council |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
Cork County Council |
|
Galway County Council |
|
|
Cork County Council |
|
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
|
|
Laois County Council |
|
|
Meath County Council |
|
|
Kilkenny County Council |
|
|
Wicklow County Council |
|
|
Westmeath County Council |
Of the fourteen draft directions issued pursuant to Section 31AN (4) of the Planning and Development Act, as amended, the OPR subsequently recommended that I issue final Directions on nine of these plans. Six of these directions have now issued and the remaining recommendations are under consideration.
There have been four occasions where it has been decided not to include all of the recommendations made by the OPR in issuing either a draft or a final Direction. These are listed as follows:
1. The Section 31 draft Direction on the Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028 did not issue on one of the recommendations made by the OPR relating to renewable energy targets, specifically wind energy.
2. The Section 31 Final Direction on the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 did not issue on two of the recommendations made by the OPR relating to retail planning policy.
3. The Section 31 final Direction on the Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 did not issue on one of the recommendations made by the OPR relating to renewable energy targets, specifically wind energy.
4. The Section 31 final Direction on the Laois County Development Plan 2022-2028 did not issue on 1 of the recommendations made by the OPR relating to renewable energy targets, specifically wind energy.
For each of the four listed above, I have prepared and submitted a statement of reasons to both Houses of the Oireachtas as to why I have not agreed with the recommendations of the OPR and this information is available for review by the Deputy.
