Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is permissible for a local authority to facilitate a Part VIII development, if the local authority has no stake hold itself in the development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8046/08]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the regulations in place regarding Part VIII developments by local authorities; the liability a local authority has to advertise a Part VIII development; the liability a local authority has to make the public aware of the distinct characteristics of a Part VIII submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8045/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 38 together.

Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the associated Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, set out the legal requirements in relation to local authority own development which does not require environmental impact assessment. Where a planning authority proposes to carry out development in accordance with Part 8 the Manager of the planning authority must consult the public and prescribed authorities. In doing so, the planning authority must:

Erect a site notice and publish a newspaper notice indicating the location, nature and extent of the development;

State in these notices that plans and particulars of the proposed development are available for inspection at the offices of the local authority for a specified period;

Send notice of the proposed development to a list of prescribed bodies; and

Invite the making of submissions or observations on the proposed development.

In addition, proposals for developments to be carried out by local authorities are subject to review by the elected members. The members can decide, by resolution, to vary or modify the proposed development, other than as recommended by the manager, or can decide not to proceed with the development. Local authorities are then required to give notice of their decision to any persons or bodies who made submissions or observations.

These public consultation procedures also apply to proposed development under section 179(1)(d) of the 2000 Act where development is proposed to be carried out on behalf of, or in partnership with, the local authority in its own functional area, pursuant to a contract with the local authority, for example, by way of public private partnership.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has plans to make the provision of architectural services a necessity in local authority planning offices; if he has plans to increase resources to local government in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8201/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each County and City Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements, including the provision of architectural services, necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.

My Department makes an annual General Purpose Grant to local authorities to meet the gap between the cost to them of providing a reasonable level of day-to-day services, including staff and related costs, and the income they obtain from other sources. The amount that has been provided this year represents an increase of €52 million, or 5.4%, over the record amount provided in 2007 and is some 195% above the amount provided in 1997.