Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

115. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it has been drawn to his attention that at a meeting of Sligo County Council held on 2 November 2015 a motion (details supplied) was unanimously adopted; if it has further been drawn to his attention that when the proposed draft county development plan was presented by the chief executive to the elected members of Sligo County Council on 27 June 2016, no map or list of rights of way was included in the draft; the action a council can take when a chief executive refuses to implement a decision of the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20115/16]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

116. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that at a meeting of Sligo County Council held on 27 June 2016 to consider the proposed draft Sligo county development plan a motion (details supplied) was adopted; the action he will take to ensure Sligo County Council complies with the Planning and Development Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20132/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the making and varying of a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members of the planning authority for the area.

My Department’s Circular Letter of October 2012 to all planning authorities sets out their statutory obligations under Section 7 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, in relation to the mandatory objective in development plans for the preservation of public rights of way. The Circular Letter also outlines that planning authorities should avail of the development plan variation process, as appropriate, where a statutory development plan review is not imminent.

In this regard, it is a matter for Sligo County Council to implement such policies in the context of their development plans. As a statutory consultee, my Department, on receipt of the draft Sligo County Development Plan 2017-2023 from Sligo County Council, will provide the planning authority with advice and comments, as appropriate, on the draft development plan and which may refer to matters relating to rights of way.

My Department acknowledges the progressive adoption by planning authorities of this mandatory objective since 2012 and will continue to keep implementation of this objective under review, including giving consideration to the need for the issuing of any reminders to planning authorities in this regard, in light of the approaches being adopted in meeting this objective.