Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

Section 180 of the principal Act provides that a residential housing estate would be taken in charge by the planning authority in certain circumstances on foot of a request from the majority of the owners or occupiers. The LRC's report on multi-unit developments recommended that only owners of units should have the right to determine whether the estate is taken in charge. This amendment implements that recommendation.

The principal Act is also amended by the placement of the reference to open spaces and car parks in the list of facilities that must be taken in charge. This is to clarify that the planning authority's obligation in respect of taking in charge in a residential estate does not extend to some spaces, such as private communal spaces, private playgrounds, bin storage areas, private car parks and allocated parking spaces. The planning authority is not required to take in charge communal spaces reserved for the use of the residents and that are not accessible to the public.