Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received representations from the Swedish retail group IKEA regarding its desire to open a major outlet in the Ballymun area; if his attention has been drawn to the discussions that apparently have taken place with the statutory authorities in Ballymun; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26084/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have not received representations from the company referred to in this specific matter and when I was considering the issue of the retail planning guidelines last year, I made it clear that I did not meet representatives of any company which had expressed interest in the matter. The company did, however, make a submission to my Department in the course of the review of the retail planning guidelines in so far as they relate to retail warehouse development.

I am aware that the draft north Ballymun local area plan was put on display by Fingal County Council on 14 September. The closing date for comments and submissions is 26 October. Adoption of the local area plan will be a matter in due course for Fingal County Council and any proposed subsequent development would, of course, be subject to the statutory planning permission application process.

Consultations between prospective developers and the public authorities in Ballymun in relation to any proposed development are a matter for the parties concerned and do not fall within my Department's remit. It is normal practice, particularly in the case of large-scale developments, for any person who intends to submit a planning application to enter into consultations on the proposed development with the planning authority and for the planning authority to give advice regarding the proposed application. Such consultations are formally provided for under section 247 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.