Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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246. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a local authority has any flexibility to give oral hearings to third parties to a planning application; and, if not, if he will consider such an approach. [38522/15]

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.