Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2023
263. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will set out in detail his ministerial directions on county development plans in 2021, 2022, and January 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9470/23]
View answerThe Minister is empowered under section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to direct a planning authority to take measures to ensure that its development plan complies with national or regional planning policy, upon receipt of a recommendation from the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR).
The decision to issue or not to issue a Direction rests with the Minister, or the Minister of State where this function has been formally delegated. The process is informed by a period of public consultation and detailed assessment of the issues arising, including consideration of the views of the elected members and the recommendation(s) of the local authority’s chief executive.
In the period in question, final Directions have issued to the following planning authorities in connection with their development plans.
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Local Authority |
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Cork City Council |
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Cork County Council |
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Donegal County Council (Variation 2) |
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Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council |
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Galway County Council |
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Kerry County Council |
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Laois County Council |
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Limerick City & County Council |
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Mayo County Council |
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Meath County Council |
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South Dublin County Council |
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Westmeath County Council |
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Wicklow County Council |
With the exception of the Direction to Wicklow County Council, which issued in February 2023, all of the above Directions issued in 2022. In addition, final decisions are yet to be made with regard to draft directions issued to Galway City Council and Kilkenny County Council.
The Directions issued in the period in question covered a broad range of complex planning issues, including, but not limited to, inappropriate land use zoning objectives, renewable energy policy, and flood risk. Copies of the Directions issued may be accessed on the OPR’s website at the following link: www.opr.ie/recommendations-made-by-the-opr-to-the-minister/
Directions issued are also laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and are placed on my Department's website. Where I, as Minister, do not agree with a recommendation of the Office a written statement of reasons is prepared, and this statement is also laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and placed on my Department’s website.
It is worth noting that the OPR publishes quarterly activity reports on its website that provide an overview of its plan evaluation activity.
