Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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99. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if planning permission is needed for use of a playing pitch as a helicopter pad for a nearby hospital. [51187/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Where works – for example, the laying of concrete, asphalt. etc. - are required for the purpose of facilitating helicopters to land in a specific location, this is development for the purposes of the Planning and Development Act 2000, and is not exempted development. Accordingly planning permission is required. The question of whether the use of land for the take-off and landing of helicopters, without any associated works, is development in any particular case is a matter to be decided by the relevant planning authority in the first instance and by An Bord Pleanála in the event of a referral to the Board under section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The planning authority or Board will make its decision in any case on the basis of the facts pertaining, taking into account all relevant matters, for example the location of the landing area and the frequency of landings and take-offs.