Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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660. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of attendees for a public event which would require planning permission; and the regulations in place for events of a smaller size to ensure such events are managed in a safe and secure way. [25098/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Section 230 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that a licence is required in respect of the holding of a prescribed event or class of event. Part 16 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 provides for the licensing of outdoor events. Article 183 of the Regulations provides that a prescribed event for the purposes of Section 230 is an event at which the audience comprises 5,000 or more people. Section 234 of the 2000 Act places a general duty on all those connected with an event, whether organising or attending the event, to take all reasonable steps to avoid exposing any other person to a risk of danger.

Organisers of events which do not require an outdoor event licence are well advised that they should be held in close co-operation with the local authority, An Garda Síochána and the emergency services and comply with the relevant codes of practice, in particular the Code of Practice for Safety at Outdoor Pop Concerts and Other Outdoor Musical Events (1996). The Planning and Development Act 2000 focuses primarily on the planning or licensing aspects of outdoor events. An Garda Síochána have responsibility for public order and crowd events, while responsibility for fire safety rests with fire authorities. My Department is currently undertaking a review of safety at funfairs, which is likely to include a broader examination of public safety at outdoor events. I expect this review to be finalised and reported on later this year.