James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 163: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will issue a ministerial directive which will subject head shops to planning laws and regulations under which their opening hours are restricted to the hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and they cannot be located within 10 km of a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25759/10]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As indicated in the reply to Question No. 51 of 27 May 2010, the Government intends to introduce a range of controls on the availability of psychotropic products which are sold in so-called head shops, and is bringing forward specific legislation in this regard.

In support of these broad-ranging initiatives, my Department will keep under review the role the planning system might play in addressing this issue, through, for example, a more restrictive use of the change of use provisions under planning legislation or the inclusion of appropriate policies in planning authority development plans. I have no plans at this stage to issue a Ministerial Directive on the matter.