Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will publish his draft development management guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22309/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I expect to issue the draft development management guidelines for public consultation shortly.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the evaluation which is in place in his Department regarding the evaluation considerations contained on page 103 of the national spatial strategy; the additional resources available from his Department to ensure these considerations can be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21993/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities must prepare housing strategies which take account of existing and likely future needs for housing. Any development plan made by a planning authority must include a housing strategy for the area of the development plan.

In exercising these functions it is a matter for each planning authority to ensure that provision is made in its area for an adequate supply of land for residential development in line with the assessment of needs in the housing strategy. Ensuring such supply requires, inter alia, the strategic reservation of land by planning authorities through the development plan process, coupled with ensuring timely and sequential release of land.

The evaluation considerations set out on page 103 of the national spatial strategy which was prepared by my Department relate to housing location in urban areas. These considerations were incorporated in the national spatial strategy for the purposes of assisting planning authorities in exercising their function of identifying the most appropriate locations for land for residential development in and adjacent to urban areas. The identification of these locations is a matter for the relevant planning authority and my Department has no function in the matter.

When a development plan has been prepared, the relevant planning authority is required to send my Department notification of this and a copy of the draft development plan. On examining the draft plan my Department may furnish comments, as appropriate, for consideration by the planning authority. In my Department's consideration of any development plan the matters considered are necessarily of a broad strategic nature such as whether the plan is consistent with the national spatial strategy and relevant regional planning guidelines and whether the statutory requirements with regard to the preparation and making of such plans have been complied with.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to have discussions with local authorities with regard to the implementation of the rural planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22321/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 311 of 22 June 2005.