Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of financial support given to An Taisce per year for the past five years; and if he will consider the removal of the preferential treatment afforded to An Taisce [i]vis-À-vis [/i] the payment of fees for objections to planning applications owing to concerns that many have relating to the organisation's conduct. [16599/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 223 of 31 May 2011 which outlines the position in relation to financial support provided to An Taisce. The Planning and Development Regulations 2001 prescribe the current planning fees. Any proposed changes to planning fees, including those payable to planning authorities in relation to the making of objections in respect of planning applications, would require the prior approval of the Oireachtas to regulations made under section 262 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2010. I have no plans to amend the planning fees regulations at this time.