Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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580. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the potential impact of the High Court ruling by a person (details supplied) of 7 December 2018 regarding the requirement of all commercial peat harvesting companies to apply for planning permission; his plans to introduce amending legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53767/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the High Court proceedings referred to because neither I, as Minister, nor the State is a party to the case concerned. In addition, it should be noted that under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any case (including planning enforcement cases) with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

My Department has been actively engaged with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in relation to new legislative procedures to put in place as speedily as possible a robust and effective legislative underpinning for a new regulatory regime for large-scale peat extraction. Under the proposed new regime, large scale peat extraction on sites in excess of 30 hectares will become subject to a licence issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and will no longer come under the planning code.

There has also been focused stakeholder input from relevant Government Departments and State bodies, industry representatives and environmental groups.

Engagement with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is at an advanced stage with a view to finalising the draft regulations for signature by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment as soon as possible.