Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

565. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to increase the fee paid to a Local Authority for objecting to a planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66146/25]

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

566. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to increase the fee paid to An Bord Pleanála for objecting to a planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66147/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 566 together.

An Coimisiún Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.

Under section 144 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended An Coimisiún is responsible for the setting of fees subject to the approval of the Minister.

Public participation is an important element of all substantive decision-making processes under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000). It is also a requirement under the UN Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation on Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention) and the European Union Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU in relation to specific types of developments.

In Ireland, it is open to any member of the public to make an observation or submission on a planning application, with the associated fee, within a specified period and the planning authority is statutorily obliged to consider such submissions before making a decision on the application. The contents of a submission are not prescribed under legislation.

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Coimisiún Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.