Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 78: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide guidelines for An Bord Pleanála to ensure that oral hearings take place in the local authority area where the railway order or planning permission is sought. [46561/10]

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

The convening of oral hearings is a matter for An Bord Pleanála. I understand that the Board normally arranges for oral hearings to take place in the local authority area where a railway order or planning permission is sought. In the case of certain large scale road and rail projects, it may be the case that the proposed development involves works within the functional area of more than one local authority, and a venue is chosen with appropriate facilities at a reasonable cost and with ease of access, including by public transport.

In respect of proposals within the Dublin area, an oral hearing venue may be in a central location outside the particular local authority area where the proposed development is to be located.

I am assured that An Bord Pleanála seeks, at all times, to facilitate participants attending oral hearings, and I have no plans to issue guidelines in this regard.