Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will establish local area community planning fora on a statutory basis to allow for direct community participation in planning. [25772/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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City and county development plans set the objectives for the proper planning and sustainable development of their areas. Local area plans translate these objectives at local level. Extensive public consultation by planning authorities in relation to the making and variation of development plans and local area plans is provided for under Part II of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002. Section 18(6) of the 2000 Act specifically provides that a planning authority may enter into an arrangement with a local community group for the preparation, or the carrying out of any aspect of the preparation, of a local area plan. I have no proposals to amend the existing legislation in this area.

Local authorities engage with the community on a regular basis through both statutory and non-statutory fora, such the County and City Development Boards, Strategic Policy Committees and the Community and Voluntary sector on a range of policy areas that are central to the development plan and local area plan processes such as housing, community development and the environment.

It is open to any community to establish a planning forum if it so wishes, and its relationship and involvement with its local planning authority is a matter between the local community and the relevant planning authority.