Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the call by the Association of City and County Councils for the regulation of the planning status of adult entertainment venues and shops; his plans to make regulations to require such operations to obtain planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5326/06]

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 648: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps that will be required to amend planning regulations to prevent adult shops, lap dancing clubs and so on locating in residential areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5666/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 648 together.

I have recently received a request from the Association of County and City Councils calling for the regulation of adult entertainment stores and related venues through the planning code. When next amending the planning exemption regulations, I will consider whether the regulation of this sector is necessary and, if so, whether this can be appropriately achieved through the planning code. Changes to the exempted development regulations require a positive resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to request a review of the strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5312/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area were published in 1999 and were succeeded by the Regional Planning Guidelines Greater Dublin Area 2004-2016. The latter were prepared at my direction and adopted jointly by the Dublin Regional Authority and the Mid-East Regional Authority.

The guidelines are in the second year of their 12 year lifespan. My Department monitors demographic and population trends on an ongoing basis in terms of changing circumstances and forecasts. I will keep under review the need for further guidance to regional authorities, in particular, the need to review their regional plans, especially in the light of the forthcoming 2006 census, from which preliminary information will be available later this year.