Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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451. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider using his powers under section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to develop the Athy south area as a strategic development zone to facilitate a new sugar beet processing plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19557/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The designation of an area as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) under Section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) is a decision of the Government, on the proposal of the Minister and taking on board observations from relevant Government Departments and the various agencies and public bodies under their aegis.

Under Section 166(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), the Minister shall, before proposing the designation of a site to the Government, consult with relevant development agencies on the proposed designation, which under Section 165 of the Act include IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, local authorities and others.  

SDZs are designated for locations of strategic national importance in economic or social terms. In this regard I have not received any proposals from the statutorily defined development agencies for such a designation in strategic national terms and therefore I have no plans to bring such a proposal to Government.

In addition, such a development proposal could be considered appropriately within the normal planning application process as in many other areas of enterprise and food sector development.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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452. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a planning aid service that would offer planning advice and support to persons and communities regarding planning issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19563/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have no proposals to introduce a planning aid service along the lines of that operating in the UK, which is a free service independent of central and local government, whereby qualified planners offer professional advice on planning matters to local communities and individuals on a voluntary basis.

Section 247 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that any person intending to apply for planning permission for development on land in which he or she has an interest may request a pre-application consultation with the relevant planning authority about the proposed development.