Written answers

Thursday, 27 November 2008

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Planning Issues

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps that will be taken to amend planning legislation in order to ensure that future development is sustainable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43049/08]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Planning and Development Act 2000 updated and modernised planning legislation and introduced a range of measures to pursue sustainable development through the forward planning and development management processes and the enforcement of planning legislation. Development plans, prepared by local authorities under Part II of the Act, currently provide the over-arching strategic framework for development with a view to ensuring its sustainability in economic, social and environmental terms. Development plans must provide clear guidance on sustainable development policies and objectives, both national and local, which address the full range of sustainability issues such as climate change, waste management, transport, urban development, sustainable communities and the use of natural resources. Local area plans translate these objectives at local level.

The legal provisions in relation to development plans are underpinned by statutory guidelines issued by my Department in June 2007 entitled Development Plans — Guidelines for Planning Authorities which are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Guidelines on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas are also being finalised for publication before the end of this year; the draft guidelines are available on my Department's website.

The Government's legislation programme, published on 23 September 2008, provides for the drafting of a General Scheme of a Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, work on which is well advanced in my Department. In general terms the Bill will aim to:

ensure a closer alignment between the National Spatial Strategy, Regional Planning Guidelines, development plans and local area plans;

ensure that the zoning of land is sustainable and supports the best use of state investment in infrastructure; and

address a number of European Court of Justice judgments relevant to the planning area.

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