Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 954: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will investigate whether the management of South Dublin County Council is in breach of its own development plan by unilaterally attempting to facilitate rezoning of lands (details supplied) by carrying out an environmental study, as the first step in the planning process without first having recourse to and following its own stated development plan objectives to look at the possibility of protecting St. Edmundsbury/Woodville from rezoning and housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11529/08]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 955: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will investigate whether a council (details supplied) has acted correctly in respect of its functions particularly by being proactive in offering a new proposal to the housing development alliance; if a conflict of interest or function exists whereby a county manager can promote a particular proposal while at the same time being in charge of a development plan which has diametrically opposite objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11530/08]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 956: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the public interest in extending the special amenity area to cover all of the lands at St. Edmundsbury/Woodville in Lucan in view of their mix of high amenity, high recreational value and outstanding natural beauty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11531/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 954 to 956, inclusive, together.

The development plans of the relevant local authorities provide the primary land use protection policies for the Liffey Valley. In addition, parts of the Liffey Valley are already covered by special designations. The area between Chapelizod and Lucan is protected by a Special Area Amenity Order (SAAO), and part of the valley is designated as a proposed Natural Heritage Area.

As indicated in the reply to Question Nos. 544 and 545 of 4 March 2008, it is an objective of South Dublin County Council's current Development Plan to investigate the feasibility of extending the SAAO to further lands, including part or all of St. Edmundsbury and Woodville lands. The protection of the Liffey Valley which is a major amenity for the people of Dublin and the extension of the SAAO are objectives which I share.

The extent and location of the land to be covered by any SAAO would be affected by the measures required to give effect to the recommendation of the Affordable Homes Partnership to use lands at St. Edmundsbury and Woodville for affordable housing. In that regard, the County Council has progressed a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Development Plan variation recommendation, on foot of which I understand the matter is currently the subject of further discussions between the Partnership and the landowner concerned. I understand that these discussions are expected to conclude very shortly.

In accordance with Part II of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002, the making, reviewing and varying of development plans are reserved functions of the elected members of a planning authority. Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans were published by my Department in June 2007 to assist planning authorities in carrying out their responsibilities in these regards.

It is a matter for South Dublin County Council and its elected members in the first instance to consider whether they wish to vary their development plan, having due regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of their area and to Government policy, as appropriate. As a consultee in respect of all development plans, I make my views known as appropriate through the statutory variation process.