Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 44:

In page 16, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following: "Insertion of section 247A into Principal Act

16.The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 247:

"247A.(1) The planning authority shall convene a final consultation meeting within 4 weeks of receipt of the prospective applicant’s request, to be attended by the planning authority, the prospective applicant or his/her representative, or both, and planning authority officials who have sufficient level of relevant knowledge and expertise in the matter concerned and a representative of the PPN network.

(2) The planning authority on receipt of the request, may issue the documentation received, or parts thereof, to any relevant prescribed bodies, including the secretariat of the Public Participation Network as defined in the Local Government Act 2014, that in the opinion of the planning authority may have relevant observations in relation to the proposed development.

(3) The failure of a prescribed body to respond to a request under subsection (2) shall not prevent the planning authority from proceeding under this section to deal with the request concerned.

(4) The planning authority may, at its discretion, consult with any person including PPN members for that local authority, who may have information that is relevant for the purposes of consultations relating to a proposed development under this section.

(5) The planning authority shall be required, within 4 weeks of the holding of the final consultation meeting, to form, and issue to the prospective applicant, and other relevant prescribed bodies, including the secretariat of the PPN an opinion as to whether the documents submitted for the final consultation meeting constitute a reasonable basis for making an application for permission for the proposed development.

(6) The planning authority shall in appropriate cases, set out in the opinion issued under subsection (5) its advice as to any issues that need to be addressed in the relevant documents that could result in them constituting a reasonable basis for making an application for permission.

(7) An opinion issued under subsection (5) shall be valid for 1 year from the date of issue of that opinion.

(8) The Minister may make regulations to provide for such matters of procedure and administration as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient in respect of matters to which this section relates, including items which may be considered at the final consultation meeting, and the conducting of the final consultation meeting and the forming an opinion under this section.".