John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Yes, I am aware of this. The guidelines were supposed to deal with many of these issues. The guidelines are very clear and advise people of the requirements. People are told if, for example, there is a need for an environmental impact assessment, a necessity to obtain an IPCC licence or waste licence in certain cases and about the need to comply with other planning guidelines where relevant, such as retail planning guidelines, the sustainable rural housing guidelines, guidelines on child care facilities and so forth. All of this is explained to the applicants at the time. The planner must include a summary of the key points discussed at pre-application consultation and the guidelines state that the matters discussed or agreed at pre-application consultation meetings are without prejudice and cannot bind the planning authority to act in a particular manner in the determination of any subsequent application. However, where the recommendations in the report are likely to depart significantly from the matters discussed or agreed at the pre-application discussion stage, the matter should be highlighted on the application for the attention of the decision maker. This will help to ensure applicants are treated consistently and reasonably throughout the course of their application and that where there is a change of direction on the part of the planning authority, it is clear to the applicant why this is the case.

See this speech in context