Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the interaction he has had in relation to the development of either county development plans town plans or area action plans by local authorities in relation to the community aspect of such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5573/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The National Spatial Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines identify improved social, amenity and cultural infrastructure as being key to achieving improved quality of life and providing better places for people to live in. In turn, these aims are translated into concrete policies and actions in county and city development plans, as well as through local area plans.

I am a statutory consultee in relation to all city and county development plans and local area plans, and take due account of all planning aspects of the draft plans, both in terms of ensuring that the plans reflect appropriately national and regional policies and priorities and assessing whether they provide for the proper and sustainable planning of the area.

In addition, Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans, which were published by my Department in June 2007, emphasise the objectives for the provision of community facilities as required by the Planning and Development Act 2000. Under the Act, local authorities must have regard to the need for community facilities in preparing their development plans. For example, section 10(2) of the Act requires development plans to include objectives for the provision, preservation, improvement and extension of amenities and recreational amenities and also the provision, or facilitation of the provision, of services for the community including, in particular, schools, crèches and other educational and childcare facilities. The Act also requires local area plans to be consistent with the objectives of the development plan for the area.

As indicated in reply to Question No. 23 on today's Order Paper, on 10 February 2008 I published for public consultation the Draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas, together with an accompanying best practice Urban Design Manual which illustrates how these guidelines can be implemented. These new guidelines are intended to replace the 1999 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Residential Density, and further strengthen the emphasis of the 1999 guidelines in relation to the quality of open space including spaces suitable for children's play and passive amenity. Moreover, the new draft guidelines provide greater detail on the need for quality community and recreational facilities to be fully integrated into the planning of new residential developments. The 12-week public consultation period for the receipt of submissions ends on 6 May 2008.