John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has plans to introduce an independent inspectorate to examine local authority applications for rezoning of land for commercial use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16017/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Decisions regarding the zoning of land are a reserved function of the elected members under the statutory development plan and local area plan processes. In accordance with Part II of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), the members of a planning authority are restricted to considering the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in question when making or varying a development plan or local area plan. As Minister, I have powers under section 31 of the Act to direct a planning authority to take specified measures to amend their draft plan or adopted plan so as to ensure compliance with proper planning principles and policies. As indicated in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 394 of 22 April 2008, work is underway in my Department to ensure greater integration between the National Spatial Strategy, Regional Planning Guidelines, development plans and local area planning. I have no specific proposal at this stage to introduce the arrangement outlined in the question.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will ensure local authorities maintain a consistent pricing system when producing copies of area and developments plans for sale to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16018/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The cost of producing copies of development plans and local area plans by local authorities varies due to differences in the volume of the documents in terms of text and supporting maps, varying complexities in design and layout and printing costs. The price charged for such documents is a matter for each local authority within an overall public service requirement to set such prices at a reasonable level in relation to production costs. My Department's Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans (June 2007) requested planning authorities, as a courtesy, to make available hard copies of the development plan at a reasonable price to groups and individuals who made a significant contribution to the preparation of the plan. In addition, most planning authorities make their plans available on their websites and this facilitates people in identifying and printing those parts of the plan which are of interest to them.