Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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666. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he can exercise any powers to initiate and reverse planning zoning decisions made by Meath County Council in its development plan, to permit construction on what is clearly a flood plain in the Mornington, Laytown and Bettystown areas of County Meath, as such decisions are strongly opposed by residents in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36533/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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As provided for under section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I can direct a planning authority on their development plan up to four weeks after the plan has been adopted where I have formed the provisional opinion that firstly the Planning Authority has ignored or not taken account of a submission made on my behalf in respect of the development plan and secondly that the plan as adopted is not in compliance with the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

With regard to lands in County Meath referred to by the Deputy, it would appear that these lands were the subject of Flood Risk Assessment as part of the planning application process and that technical assessments of relevant planning applications by the Planning Authority from the environmental and water services perspectives were satisfactory, subject to the development being constructed in accordance with the drawings submitted and in compliance with the conditions attached.

Moreover, Meath County Council has indicated that a Part VIII planning process for the Northlands Flood Scheme commenced in August of this year.  On consideration of the flood scheme by the Members of Meath County Council and completion of the Part VIII planning process, the detailed design will be finalised with a view to commencing works by the summer of 2016.

Given the background to the matter the Deputy has raised, I have no remit in relation to reversing the decisions of the local authority, it being a matter for Meath County Council to ensure that proper account has been taken of all relevant flood risk considerations in the context of its decisions on the overall development of the area, in deciding individual planning applications and undertaking investment in surface water disposal infrastructure in the area.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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667. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will give detailed and urgent consideration to the request from Monaghan County Council in relation to the proposed North-South interconnector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36622/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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An Bord Pleanála is the independent statutory body assigned responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and certain other matters under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, and for the determination of applications for strategic infrastructure development including major roads, railways and power transmission lines. The Board may, at its own discretion, hold oral hearings in relation to cases being considered by it.

Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular planning case with which a planning authority, including An Bord Pleanála, is or may be concerned.