Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

The problem with the guidelines is that they are just guidelines. I know the Minister wanted a formula where he would provide in the planning and development Act that councillors make decisions consistent with the guidelines. That still leaves a significant area open to interpretation by councillors, county managers and so on. Would the Minister consider setting out what he wants to do in the guidelines in the Act, similar to what was done by the previous Government when it set out what was required of strategic development zones, such as Adamstown? It was clearly set out in section 168 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 so that there was no room for manoeuvre. Developments had to be phased and tied to infrastructure. That worked very successfully. Also the guidelines will not stop people rezoning and that is the important thing.

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