Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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200. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce legislation to support the guidelines issued to local authorities on 18 August 2021 with regard to telecommunications infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54972/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Legislation relating to Planning and Development is a matter for the Minister for Housing. Local Government and Heritage.    

I assume that the Deputy is referring to Circular Letter PL 07/2021 issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 18 August 2021. The purpose of that circular was to bring to the attention of all Local Authorities that the Minister of State for Planning & Local Government had made new regulations - Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 422 of 2021) - that set a prescribed fee for Section 254 licences in respect of an overground cable which is part of an electronic communications network. I understand that the focus of the circular was on the new Regulations that had actually been made, rather than planned legislation.