Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review the role of An Bord Pleanála in critical infrastructure projects such as the national children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13222/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In general I am precluded, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Acts, from exercising any power or control in relation to any individual planning application or appeal with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. The strategic consent process under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006, which became operational from 31 January 2007, is designed to provide a streamlined, single stage consent process based on rigorous assessment of projects, including their environmental impacts.

All applications for strategic infrastructure are now assessed by the Strategic Infrastructure Division within An Bord Pleanála acting as a "one-stop shop" in respect of development consent for all major infrastructure, including large-scale health infrastructure projects. The types of project coming within the scope of these provisions was examined in the context of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010. I will keep the strategic infrastructure provisions under review with a view to ensuring that they continue to meet their intended planning and development purposes in an efficient and timely manner.