Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 449: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the regional planning guidelines and the democratically adopted Cork county development plan and Cork area strategic plan in the context of a recent An Bord Pleanála decision regarding development of park and ride facilities at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35725/10]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The statutorily-based South West Regional Authority Regional Planning Guidelines 2010 to 2022 , which were adopted by the South West Regional Authority in July this year, replace the 2004 Regional Planning Guidelines and set a strategic planning framework for development plans within the area of the authority over the 12-year period. The Cork Area Strategic Plan, adopted jointly by Cork County Council and Cork City Council, provides the strategic framework for the development of the Gateway city within the regional and national policy context. The Cork County Development Plan 2009-2015 was adopted by the Council on 9 January 2009.

Following a public consultation process during which thirty six submissions were received, my Department is currently reviewing and finalising the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Spatial Planning and National Roads. These Guidelines, which are aimed at ensuring that roads planning and policy, and development planning and management processes are appropriately and effectively aligned, encourage a collaborative approach and early engagement, in line with international best practice, between planning authorities and the National Roads Authority with the aim of ensuring that transport and land use planning considerations are taken into account at the early stages of both development plan and development management processes. This is to ensure that future development at locations on, or in the vicinity of, national roads is guided to the most suitable location and that work on Ireland's national roads network is planned for and managed in a complementary and integrated manner.

Under planning legislation, the decision as to whether to grant a planning application, with or without conditions, is a matter for the relevant planning authority and An Bord Pleanála on appeal. In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities and the Board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the development plan, any submissions or observations received, and relevant Ministerial or Government policies, including any guidelines issued by the Minister.