Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of occasions upon which directions to local authorities have issued under Section 31(1) of Planning and Development Act 2000; the reason for such directions; if such directions have been complied with in full; the timeframe for such compliance; the consequences of councils not complying with such directions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36016/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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One direction has been issued to date by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government under section 31(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This was in February 2004 to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in relation to the draft Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan covering the period 2004 to 2010. The direction required the Council to amend the draft development plan to ensure that sufficient and suitable land was zoned as residential or for a mix of residential and other uses in order to meet the requirements of the housing strategy. The housing strategy was amended accordingly to address the matter raised in the direction and the County Development Plan 2004-2010 was adopted in March 2004.

The direction recently issued by me to Laois County Council regarding their County Development Plan 2006-2012 was made under Section 31(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Planning and Development Act 2000 states that a planning authority shall comply with any direction made under Section 31 and that, in exercising any powers conferred on them by the Act, neither the manager nor the elected members shall exercise their powers in conflict with any such direction.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to regulate the planning, provision and operation of seaside caravan and mobile home sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36044/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Caravan parks and mobile home sites require planning permission under the planning code. Any permanent campsites and caravan sites where the number of pitches would be greater than 100 also require an Environmental Impact Statement.

In granting planning permission for these types of development, planning authorities may attach a range of conditions relating to the location and operation of such facilities as is suitable for that particular area. I consider this to be the most appropriate level at which the operation of such facilities should be regulated and have no proposals to introduce further regulations on this matter.