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

With regard to amendment No. 305, the purpose of the amendment to section 173(1) of the Planning and Development Act on permission for development requiring environmental impact assessment is to insert "or Chapter III of Part XXI" after "In addition to the requirements under section 34(3)". This is to ensure applications made under Chapter III are covered under the provision that relates to environmental impact assessment.

With regard to amendment No. 306, the purpose of this amendment to the new section 178A is to provide for agreements between a local authority and another person to carry out development. This is to provide for commissions, joint ventures and partnerships, and the previous wording did not permit this. This would, for example, allow local authorities to work together or allow local authorities to employ a third party to carry out the works.

With regard to amendment No. 307, the purpose of this amendment of new section 178A is to provide for agreements between a State authority and another person to carry out development. This is to provide for commissions, joint ventures and partnerships and is similar in effect to amendment No. 306.

With regard to amendment No. 308, the purpose of the amendment of section 182 of the Planning and Development Act on cables, wires and pipelines is to insert a new subsection (1A) which, to be eligible to apply for approval in respect of a maritime site, requires a local authority to be the holder of a maritime area consent, or be either the owner of the land or be applying on behalf of, or with the consent of, the owner of the land on which it is proposed to carry out the development concerned. This is to align with other provisions already proposed and to require local authorities to have a MAC for the purposes of this section.