Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of amendment No. 232 is to confirm that the board may provide its opinion based on consideration of some or all of the matters it is likely to take into consideration relating to what is listed at section 287(2)(f). In effect, at pre-planning the board can relate to the applicant what it is likely to look at during the consideration of an application proper. The formulation in the existing text at paragraph (f) used the word "will" and may have inadvertently limited the board to considering only those matters discussed at pre-planning. This would be at variance from the existing land-based provisions and would, in effect, have precluded the board from considering new information raised, for example, in the public consultation during the period. I am sure Deputies will agree this would not have been satisfactory. The board must be allowed to examine all matters it considers relevant when the planning application proper is set before it. Not all of the details may be apparent at pre-planning stage, and the public and prescribed bodies may be allowed to raise new issues that can be material considerations in the decision-making process.

The purpose of amendment No. 233 is to confirm that being the holder of a lease under section 2 of the Foreshore Act 1933 for the same development is a qualifying criterion that enables the board to consider an application for screening for environmental impact assessment in respect of a proposed development. This is related to other amendments that make foreshore leaseholders eligible applicants and it is designed to accommodate those foreshore functions remaining with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It replaces the existing text to link the lease more tightly to the development concerned, thus closing off any avenues for other legacy foreshore leases to access the planning system. It is related to earlier amendments, but not grouped, and it is specifically related to environmental impact assessment screening.