Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1788. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when proposals will be brought forward to try speed up major infrastructure projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1424/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I intend to amend the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in order to classify data centres above a specified threshold as strategic infrastructure developments.  This change will mean that applications for planning permission for specified data centres will be made direct to An Bord Pleanála and will not have to be submitted to the relevant local planning authority in the first instance, with the possibility of a subsequent appeal to the Board, thereby streamlining the planning decision-making process in respect of qualifying data centres.

I propose to table the necessary legislative amendments by way of Seanad Committee Stage amendments to the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 which is currently at Dáil Report Stage.