John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

The main elements of the policy guidance contained in my circular letter will be incorporated into the new sustainable residential development guidelines, which are currently available for public consultation. They will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 later this year, which will give them more teeth. The planning authorities are obliged to have regard to such guidelines in the exercise of their functions under the Planning Acts, which is important.

The implementation of the new policy in this area will, as the Deputy pointed out, require the commitment of additional resources by planning authorities, particularly in terms of pre-application consultation and inspection of construction. I am aware that it will require extra resources and, therefore, my Department has completed a review of planning application fees, which were last increased in 1998. I am currently considering the review recommendations with a view to determining whether the increases are warranted and the level of any such increases.

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