Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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44. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will carry out a review of the current planning regulations, where State funded third-parties will lodge appeals to An Bord Pleanála in respect of planning applications which have been assessed by the local authority in compliance with local, regional and national planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8867/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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An appeal mechanism is a fundamental feature of the planning system: the applicant and any person who makes a submission on a planning application may appeal the decision of a planning authority to An Bord Pleanála, the independent statutory appeals board. An Bord Pleanála, in determining an appeal, reviews the entire case having regard to the same matters as the planning authority was required to have regard to in the first instance. As it is required to, the Board reaches its own determination on the matter, in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

While the provisions of the Planning and Development Acts and Regulations are generally kept under review in my Department, I have no plans to amend the legislation to restrict the right of appeal, or to limit the rights of third parties to participate in the planning process, which have been an integral part of the modern planning code since its inception in 1963.