Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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312. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the proposed changes designed to speed up the planning process and the way this will aid schools in the planning system. [38975/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department initiated a public consultation process on 31 January 2014 for the purpose of reviewing and updating the Development Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2007. As part of that process, it was indicated that consideration would be given to any changes to improve the efficiency of the planning application process while continuing to provide for appropriate and necessary public participation and environmental assessment. In addition, the High Level Group on Business Regulation - which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation - recently established a Planning Sub-Group, representative of both Government Departments, business interests and professional planning agents/planners to make recommendations for any appropriate amendments to improve the planning process generally, including improving its impacts on business.

The submissions received during the public consultation process on the review of the Development Management Guidelines are currently being examined by my Department. It is proposed to bring forward any necessary revisions to further streamline the planning process – which may also impact positively on school building projects - as soon as possible, following the receipt of the input from the Planning Sub-Group of the High Level Group on Business Regulation. Further reforms relating to the streamlining of the planning system, including in relation to e-planning i.e. the online submission of planning applications, will also be considered in the context of the forthcoming Planning and Development Bill.