Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Ó Broin and O'Callaghan. Amendment No. 211 proposes to amend subsection (2) of section 24 by changing "may" to "shall" for the purposes of consultation with specified bodies in advance of issuing a national planning statement. The use of "shall" puts a mandatory requirement on the Minster to undertake consultation. It is generally the case that the Minister, on behalf of the Government, consults with the public and interested parties prior to issuing a national planning statement. However, the Bill has to cater for the capability of the issuing of national planning policy statements where an urgent need is identified. The Bill as currently drafted allows for this capacity, which allows for the efficient management of the national planning system.

Section 24(2) certainly enhances public consultation being undertaken by the Minister. The current section 28 in the Planning and Development Act 2000 makes nothing explicit in that regard. Subsection 24(2) does. In practice, the Government and the Department have gone out and had public consultation on section 28 guidelines, but we feel we have to allow some flexibility in the event that something that arises requires urgency. Not all planning statements may require public consultation - some of them might be very technical in orientation - but we are putting into legislation that the Minister may consult. It is happening in practice, but under the Planning and Development Act 2000 it is not explicit in that regard.