Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 578: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 19 February 2009, if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty posed for residents in the vicinity of quarries which have been registered under provisions of Section 261 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, where local authorities are not in a position to take enforcement proceedings against the quarry operators thereby obliging them to adhere to the conditions attached in their registration either by the local authority or An Bord Pleanála; his proposals to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15317/09]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 579: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a legal opinion from An Bord Pleanála regarding the legal framework governing pre-1964 quarries and the capacity of local authorities to enforce conditions attached to their licensing under Section 261 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000; his views on whether it is satisfactory that local authorities are powerless in respect of enforcing conditions attached to their licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15318/09]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 580: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) regarding the laws that relate to the registration by planning authorities of pre-1964 quarries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15319/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 578 to 580, inclusive, together.

It is acknowledged that there are deficiencies in section 261 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, concerning the control of quarries and revised legislative provision to address these deficiencies is under consideration in the context of the proposed Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009.

I am not aware of any legal opinion from An Bord Pleanála or of correspondence from the County and City Managers Association regarding the legislative framework governing pre-1964 quarries.