Ms Valerie Loughnane:

If somebody makes an application under that policy in our plan, they would have to qualify with respect to whether they would enhance the Irish language and so on. We look at every application on its merits. Even some of the areas Senator Kyne mentions are under more urban pressure than others, albeit in very close proximity to the city. However, we would still look at that policy and take the individual in each application on their merits, based on the case they make and the contribution they would make to the Irish language and culture in those areas.

We have to be cognisant of the fact that in the past we have had one or two cases where planning permission was granted and appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which ruled that there would be an issue because the local area was under such urban pressure. When we are advising people on our policies in the development plan, we have to advise them of that as well, because it is a risk factor. That is why we have to assess applications based on urban pressure, taking into account all of the objectives that were in place in the past in the national spatial strategy and are now in the national planning framework, the regional spatial economic strategies and our current county development plan.