Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will establish a national database of developers who fail to properly complete housing estates in accordance with the planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35133/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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As Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government I have overall responsibility for the legislative and policy framework governing the planning system. The enforcement of planning control is a matter for individual planning authorities, who have substantial enforcement powers under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2006.

With regard to action against unauthorised developments, planning authorities have substantial powers and obligations, under the Planning and Development Acts, in relation to unauthorised developments. The 2000 Act provided for a strengthened enforcement regime and increased penalties on conviction for the offence of unauthorised development. Section 35 of the 2000 Act, as amended in 2006, gives planning authorities a new power to refuse planning permission, without recourse to the High Court, to a developer who has substantially failed to comply with a previous planning permission.

Ultimately, each planning authority has primary responsibility for dealing with applications for permission and planning enforcement within its own area. I do not propose, therefore, to establish a national database along the lines outlined in the Question.