Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1437. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if planning authorities and-or local authorities have any discretion to allow oral hearings for third parties to a planning application, under the Planning and Development Acts 2000–2012 and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2012; if not, his plans to consider same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31271/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Planning legislation provides that any person or body, on payment of the appropriate fee, may make a submission or observation in writing to a planning authority in relation to a planning application within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt of the application by the planning authority. The legislation does not provide discretion for planning authorities to hold oral hearings in relation to planning applications. I have no plans to amend the legislation in this regard.

However, a person or body who makes a submission on a planning application to a planning authority may appeal the decision of the planning authority to An Bord Pleanála (the Board). The Board may, at its own discretion, hold oral hearings in relation to cases being considered by it.