Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 1376: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is his intention to remove the charge for planning objections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2110/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 1415: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide details of the enhanced service provided by planning authorities to persons who make formal submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2622/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1376 and 1415 together.

The €20 fee for making a submission on a planning application was introduced in the context of the comprehensive review of planning legislation which culminated in the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. The fee was introduced in tandem with the increased rights given to 3rd parties in the planning process in the revised legislation. Since the enactment of the 2000 Act planning authorities are statutorily obliged to acknowledge submissions on planning applications and to consider those submissions before making decisions on planning applications. Persons who make submissions are also entitled to be notified of

any new information provided;

the decision of the planning authority;

an appeal against the decision of the planning authority.

This administrative framework is expensive to administer and the purpose of the €20 fee is to contribute to the increasing costs for planning authorities in administering the development consent system while not discouraging public participation in the process. The fee also facilitates the identification of those persons who have made a submission on a planning application and who are therefore entitled to appeal decisions. Further, the fee is payable once; if a person who has paid a fee makes a further submission or observation, no fee is payable in respect of the subsequent submission or observation.

My Department is currently examining the costs of the planning service with a view to reviewing the Regulations relating to planning application fees in the context of improving further service delivery. Any proposed changes to the current fees structure, including the fee for making a submission on an application, will require the endorsement of the Oireachtas.