Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 760: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the submission made by his Department to variation number three of the Wicklow County Development Plan in recent weeks took into consideration the guidelines on one-off rural housing; if so, if a rural area is defined as a town or village with a population of under 1,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27520/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is a prescribed body for the giving of notice by planning authorities of the preparation of draft development plans and proposed variations to development plans.

On 16 May 2006, my Department sent comments for consideration by Wicklow County Council in relation to Proposed Variation No. 3 to the Wicklow County Development Plan 2004-2010. The Proposed Variation deals with revisions and amendments to Chapter 3 of the Development Plan — Population/Settlement Strategy. My Department's comments included that the Proposed Variation generally accords with the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines for Planning Authorities which issued in April 2005. For the purposes of these Guidelines, rural areas are defined as those areas outside of urban areas with a population of 1,500 or over.