Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to amend section 12 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in order that all landowners must be informed in writing by a planning authority of all proposals before that authority to alter the zoning of properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12876/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Under sections 11 and 12 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002, planning authorities are required, inter alia, to give public notification of the preparation of draft development plans, to make copies of the draft plan available for inspection and to invite written submissions or observations on the draft plan. Furthermore, section 13 of the Act requires similar public notification and consultation in respect of any proposed variations to adopted development plans. Section 20 of the Act, as amended, requires planning authorities, inter alia, to give public notification of the proposal to make, amend or revoke a local area plan, to make copies of the proposal available for inspection and to invite submissions or observations.

These processes are facilitated by the public display of detailed plans at various locations within the authority's functional area, and on their websites. In addition, most planning authorities engage with local communities, interest groups and other key stakeholders at public meetings in the preparation of development plans where the issues and the process are discussed: this is also common practice where the preparation of local area plans is concerned. In the light of this, I have no proposals to amend the existing legislation.