Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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657. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason for the delay in processing the proposed extension of the Clonburris special development zone boundary, first submitted to his Department by South Dublin County Council in July 2014; and when he will agree the designation of the proposed boundary. [36342/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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South Dublin County Council is seeking to amend the 2006 Government Order that designated 180 hectares of land at Clonburris as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), by extending the SDZ boundary to incorporate an additional 100 hectares of land. Section 166 (1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides for the making of such an Order by the Government when so proposed by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

In 2008, a Planning Scheme for the designated lands was approved by An Bord Pleanála.  Although this Planning Scheme remains in force, none of the residential or commercial development originally envisaged on the lands commenced due to the general economic downturn and collapse of the residential market. However, recovering economic conditions have resulted in a proposal by South Dublin County Council to request the designation of an additional 100 hectares of land as part of the SDZ so that a new planning scheme can be drawn up for the area that responds to changed economic circumstances, takes advantage of infrastructural investment in the area and potential for further investment and achieves sustainable place-making and high quality urban design. 

The legislative process for Strategic Development Zone designation requires that I consult with the relevant development agency or planning authority on the proposed designation. Consultations on technical and environmental aspects to the incorporation of the additional area as part of the SDZ have been recently concluded and I expect to bring to the matter to Government in the very near future.