Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 277: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the local authorities which have swapped lands with developers in the private sector in the past five years; the locations of the lands in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12476/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As these issues are primarily a matter for local authorities, my Department does not compile information on the extent or location of land exchanges by local authorities. Under section 211 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, land acquired by a local authority may be sold, leased or exchanged. The consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to a land exchange only arises where what is obtained by the local authority on the exchange is not the best reasonably obtainable, but not in all such cases. Under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, such ministerial consent is not required where a local authority is of the opinion that, for economic or social reasons, it is reasonable that the disposal of land be carried out in accordance with the terms specified by the authority in the notice which is to be given to members of the authority regarding the proposed disposal of land in accordance with section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001. In such a case, the notice in question must incorporate or be accompanied by a report from the manager setting out the economic or social reasons that apply in relation to the disposal of the land in question.