Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Under planning legislation, the decision as to whether to grant a planning application, with or without conditions, is a matter for the relevant planning authority in the first instance or for An Bord Pleanála on appeal. In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities and the board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the development plan, any submissions or observations received, and relevant ministerial or Government policies, including any guidelines issued by the Department.

Planning authorities and the board are required to give the reasons for their decisions on planning applications and, in the case of board decisions, the reasons for the decision will be given in the board order, the direction and the inspector's report. The board's order is given to the planning applicant in every case and is placed on the board's website, with the direction and inspector's report, within three working days of the decision. In the case of a refusal of permission, the applicant can consider whether, in the light of the reasons for the decision, it would be possible to make a revised planning application which address the concerns of the board to the original proposal. It is open to the applicant, under section 247 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, to seek a pre–application consultation with the planning authority in relation to a further planning application.

Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.