Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to change planning requirements to prevent house owners in urban areas from putting in driveways that preclude drainage on the driveway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44040/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I published, yesterday, finalised Guidelines to Planning Authorities on the Planning System and Flood Risk Management, which are aimed at ensuring a more consistent, rigorous and systematic approach to the full incorporation of flood risk assessment and management into the planning system. The Guidelines contain a commitment to review the exempted development planning regulations, which currently allow for paving of front gardens to provide off-street parking or hard landscaping. This review will be undertaken in 2010 and will look, inter alia, at ways of ensuring that future exemptions only apply where such developments comply with sustainable drainage principles.