Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Planning Issues

9:00 pm

Photo of George LeeGeorge Lee (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 878: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if planning permission would have been required to build a housing estate on land in South Dublin in 1961; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1425/10]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The national system of planning control in Ireland began with the commencement of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1963 on 1 October 1964 when a general obligation to obtain planning permission was introduced.

Prior to this, the planning legislation in operation was the Town and Regional Planning Act 1934, as amended. Under this legislation, local authorities were permitted to adopt a planning scheme for their area. Where a planning scheme applied, developers were required to obtain permission for developments as specified in the scheme. The requirement for such a scheme was not obligatory and only Dublin Corporation participated in the process.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 879: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will support a matter (details supplied). [1470/10]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department's Development Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities, published in June 2007 and available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie, advise that potential applicants should be made aware at pre-application stage of the necessity to ensure that the design implications of accessibility are addressed in housing and commercial development. The Guidelines further state that planning authorities should also consider whether it is necessary to add specific conditions to ensure access for all in the approach to buildings from the main road, from the street or from disabled car parking.

The Guidelines also refer to the National Disability Authority's 2002 publication, Building for Everyone, which offers good practice on the accessibility issue and suggest that consultation with organisations representative of people with disabilities may also be of assistance.

The statutory Development Management Guidelines were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are obliged to have regard to them in the performance of their planning functions.

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