Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 641: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the zoning for high density retail and residential development on land which forms part of a floodplain in Bray, County Wicklow and the fact that this zoning contradicts advice from the Office of Public Works and town planners that it was not advisable to build on same; and his further views on the fact that this rezoning is inconsistent with the communication from the European Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on flood risk management, flood prevention, protection and mitigation with regard to best practice in respect of flood prevention (details supplied). [31988/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Bray Town Council adopted its development plan for 2005 to 2011 on 12 April 2005. The question of including objectives for the zoning of land for different uses is a matter for each planning authority to address in the context of its development plan. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities may also include in their development plans objectives regulating, restricting or controlling development in areas at risk of flooding. Development plan objectives may also included policies indicating that developers will be required to support funding of flood defences needed for particular developments, either partially or fully, depending on the circumstances involved.

The Bray Town Council development plan includes a requirement to the effect that all development proposals must include appropriate measures for the protection of the subject site, and other lands in its vicinity, from flooding. In the case of the specific lands it is understood the question refers to, the development plan also provides that no development shall be permitted on any part of the lands until the town council and the Office of Public Works are satisfied that all lands throughout the town that are located in proximity to the riverbank, are not put at new or increased risk from potential flooding. The development plan also provides that before there is any development on the lands the council shall obtain its own expert advice from a competent hydrologist and other experts and from the Office of Public Works and permission on the lands shall not be granted unless all reports indicate that the land is suitable for development.