Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to difficulties in the implementation of the Planning and Development Act 2000 regarding the registration of quarries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38691/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Section 261 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 introduced a once-off system of registration for all quarries except quarries which had received planning permission in the five years preceding the date the section commenced, 28 April 2004. This section is intended to ensure that planning authorities have basic information about quarrying operations in their areas. Planning permission may then be required for any proposed expansion or intensification of its operations and, where necessary, new or modified controls on the operation of certain quarries may be imposed. Under the registration system quarry operators have to supply full details of their operations to the planning authority. This information was required to be supplied within a year, that is, by 27 April 2005.

I understand that, in a limited number of cases, certain individual quarry operators did not register by the deadline and are therefore required to apply for planning permission to continue to quarry. However, I am happy that, overall, the statutory requirement to register under section 261 will help to ensure that the quarrying industry operates to the highest standards in planning and environmental terms.

To assist planning authorities in applying the section, my Department issued guidelines on quarries and ancillary activities in April 2004 to coincide with the commencement of section 261. The guidelines, which were issued under section 28 of the 2000 Planning Act, offer guidance to planning authorities on planning for the quarrying industry through the development plan and determining applications for planning permission for quarrying and ancillary activities. They are also a practical guide to the implementation of section 261.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding an application by Wexford Borough Council for approval to provide an extension to the family home of persons; if he can expedite approval in order that the work can be put in hand without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38711/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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There are two applications from Wexford Borough Council currently under examination in my Department for extensions to local authority houses. Decisions will be conveyed to the council on these two proposals a soon as possible. The council is required to submit these proposals to my Department for approval as the estimated costs are expected to exceed the delegated authority limit of €75,000.