Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the changes he proposes to make to the 2010 Planning and Development Act. [6835/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in relation to the planning area. These include:

§ better coordination of national, regional and local planning laws in order to achieve better and more coordinated development that supports local communities;

§ improving local transport access by requiring, inter alia, that local authorities develop a transport plan in conjunction with their development plans and local area plans;

§ examining the legislative provisions in relation to the taking in charge of estates by local authorities – this will be informed by the report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments which will be completed shortly;

§ substantially increasing existing penalties for those who break planning laws, and

§ ensuring that the planning system is integrated with schools planning so that all new zonings for residential development make adequate provision for school places.

The Government also intends to build upon the many planning reforms introduced in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 to ensure that there is adequate access and participation by citizens and public representatives in decision making and policy formation.