Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent to which the impact of the economic downturn and hence lower immigration levels and housing demand are being factored into the draft planning guidelines under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47586/08]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the timescale envisaged for completing his consideration of the draft planning guidelines for local authorities; and when he expects the new guidelines to come into force. [47587/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.

As outlined in the reply to Question Nos. 914 and 915 of 10 July, in accordance with Section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, local authorities are required to prepare development plans, setting out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area over a six-year period. Housing and settlement strategies, which form part of a development plan, are required to be prepared on the basis of defined need and to facilitate and manage appropriate levels of growth in a sustainable manner. Such need would be established having regard to, inter alia, evolving economic and demographic circumstances. Under Section 13 of the Act, a planning authority may at any time, for stated reasons, decide to make a variation of a development plan. Revised regional population targets on foot of the Census 2006 data analysis have already been reflected in regional and local plans. To assist planning authorities in the development plan process, my Department published Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans in 2007. These are available from my Department's website at www.environ.ie.

The 2004 Regional Planning Guidelines, which are statutorily valid for a period of six years but which set targets and policies for a 12-year period, are due to be reviewed by 2010. The updated guidelines will have regard to the National Spatial Strategy, the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and other national policy developments and will also take account of regional social and demographic issues, economic and employment trends, and infrastructural developments and needs.

In February 2008, I published for public consultation draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas accompanied by a best practice Urban Design Manual. A total of 69 submissions were received on foot of the consultation process and these have been considered by my Department in preparing the finalised guidelines on a statutory basis under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act. It is my intention to publish the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas and the accompanying Urban Design Manual before the end of the year.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47596/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am conscious of the difficulties outlined in the correspondence referred to in the question.

I will keep the matter under review in the context of the drafting of a Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill which will be brought forward for publication in the first half of next year.

Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to appeal to the EU Commission a decision by An Bord Pleanála regarding a parcel of land (details supplied) in County Galway or whether he accepts the decision of An Bord Pleanála as being full and final; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47647/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I have no function in relation to route design for national roads projects or the confirmation or otherwise of compulsory purchase orders in respect of land required for such projects. In addition, as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I am generally precluded under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 from exercising any power or control in relation to any individual matter with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

It is a matter for An Bord Pleanála to ensure that its decisions are in full compliance with domestic and EU law. It is also open to any third party to seek a judicial review of a decision in accordance with section 50 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.