Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding An Taisce's role in relation to developments carried out by a local authority or on planning applications made to a local authority or draft county development plans or local area plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21820/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Section 33 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that regulations regarding applications for planning permission may be made requiring, inter alia, that planning authorities must notify prescribed bodies of the receipt of applications for certain classes of development. Article 28 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 lists the bodies prescribed for this purpose, and these include An Taisce in circumstances where it appears to the planning authority that the proposed development might impact on matters such as areas of special amenity, protected structures, national monuments or nature conservation. Article 82 of the Regulations lists An Taisce as a prescribed body requiring notice when a local authority is undertaking development under Section 179 of the Act (Local authority own development).

Section 11 (2) of the Act requires the local authority to give notice to prescribed bodies of its intention to review and prepare a new development plan for its area. The list of prescribed bodies, which includes An Taisce, is listed under Article 13 of the Regulations.

Section 20(3) of the Act states that a planning authority shall, following consultation with the public and, where necessary, Údarás na Gaeltachta, send notice of a proposal to make, amend or revoke a local area plan to the prescribed authorities. An Taisce is not a prescribed authority for the purpose of this section; however they may submit an observation at the public consultation stage.

An Taisce is also a prescribed body under the Act for the purposes of:section 24 (consultation regarding regional planning guidelines); section 55 (procedure for making additions or deletions — to the record of protected structures); section 85 (special planning control scheme); section 106 (appointment of ordinary members — of An Bord Pleanála); section 169 (making of planning scheme); and section 175 (environmental impact assessment of certain development carried out by or on behalf of local authorities).

An Taisce is an independent, voluntary, non-governmental organisation and is responsible for regulating its own activities.