Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 677: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if planning officials at county council level have the right to implement sustainable rural housing guidelines and, in particular, the settlement strategy element of these guidelines prior to the county development plan having been duly amended to incorporate the said guidelines and prior to the county councillors having ratified the necessary changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34436/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The sustainable rural housing guidelines for planning authorities were issued on 13 April 2005 under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and came into effect from that date. Section 28 of the Act requires planning authorities to have regard to the guidelines in the performance of all of their planning functions.

The circular issued by my Department on 11 May 2005 requested planning authorities to review their development plans to ensure that these are consistent with the guidelines. While such reviews are taking place, planning authorities were instructed and are legally required in the meantime to have regard to the guidelines in the exercise of their planning functions.