Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Section 48, on page 107, provides that as part of a development plan, a local authority "shall prepare a strategy for the conservation ... of the natural and built heritage". That includes landscapes, places of natural beauty and areas of natural heritage. It is covered within section 48. There are sufficient provisions in the current planning system to suitably protect the environment and to ensure that places, sites and other objects of archaeological, geological, historical, scientific and, most importantly from the Deputy's point here, ecological interest are assessed.