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

I move amendment No. 297:

In page 95, line 11, to delete “3 working days” and substitute “5 working days”.

Government amendments Nos. 297 to 299, inclusive, 520 to 523, inclusive, 574, 576, 578, 666, 715, 757 and 753 extend the number of days provided for a number of tasks in Part 3, which relates to the making of plans, taking on board the operational feasibility of the same. The extensions are minor and practical in nature. The amendments relate to section 38, which is on the power of the Minister to issue directions to a regional assembly in respect of a regional and spatial economic strategy, section 63, which relates to the power of the Minister to issue direction to a planning authority in respect of a development plan, and section 77, which has regard to the power of the Minister to issue a direction to a planning authority in respect of an area plan.

Amendments Nos. 297, 298, 299, 520 to 522, inclusive, 574 and 576 extend the provided timeframe for the circulation and publication of directions from two or three days to five days in each instance. While it is very important that these directions are circulated and published within as short a time as possible, on review, it was considered not to be feasible to do so within two or three days. Extending the time period to five days gives the regional assemblies and planning authorities appropriate time to put arrangements in place while still ensuring that they are published and circulated in less than a week.

Amendments Nos. 299, 523 and 578 change the time provided for the regional assembly or planning authority to comply with the direction from three days of the receipt of the direction to "as soon as is practicable". Again following review, it was considered that three days was too short a period and that it may not be possible for them to do it within that time period as arrangements and notifications may need to be put in place in order to comply. Regional assemblies and planning authorities recognise the importance of complying with directions once they are received but providing that they must do so within three days may not always be appropriate.

Amendments Nos. 666, 715, 747 and 753 enable the applicant to agree to the planning authority taking longer than the periods provided for. Amendment No. 14 relates to section 98, titled "Time limit for decision of planning authority", amendment No. 16 relates to section 110, titled "Time limits for determination of appeal by Commission", amendment No. 18 relates to section 124, "Time limit for-----