Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has been in contact with the Department of Transport regarding the placing of mobile phone transmitters in DART stations owned by CIE; his views on whether these transmitters should be subject to planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11021/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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There has been no contact between my Department and the Department of Transport regarding the matter raised in the question.

In July 1996 my Department issued guidelines for planning authorities on telecommunications antennae and support structures. The purpose of those guidelines was to assist planning authorities, An Bord Pleanála, operators of mobile telecommunications services and the general public by providing guidance on dealing with telecommunications masts and base stations within the planning system. The guidelines advise that, in order to avoid unnecessary proliferation of masts, owners, that is, those controlling access to support structures and masts, would be expected facilitate co-location of antennae with other operators.

The exempted development regulations provide for the attachment, subject to conditions, of additional antennae to an existing antennae support structure and to existing public or commercial buildings other than education facilities, child care facilities or hospitals. The decision as to whether a particular development is exempt or requires planning permission is a matter for the planning authority or An Bord Pleanála, on appeal. Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 precludes the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála may be concerned.