Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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262. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding submissions for development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5158/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Public participation is a long-established and crucial element of all substantive decision-making processes under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and the supplementary Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations).  In this regard, articles 17-19 of the Regulations require that an applicant for planning permission shall give public notice of the intention to make a planning application in the 2 week period prior to the lodging of the application by -

(i) placing an advertisement in relation to the proposed planning application in a newspaper approved for this purpose by the local planning authority, and

(ii) erecting a site notice in this connection in a conspicuous position on or near the main entrance to the land or structure concerned, or where there is more than one entrance from public roads, on or near all such entrances, or on any other part of the land or structure adjoining a public road, so as to be easily visible and legible by persons using the public road. 

Both such advertisements and site notices are required to advise where the application and accompanying documents relating to the proposed application may be viewed and a copy purchased, and that submissions and observations on the application may be made to the planning authority concerned within a specified period. 

Article 18(1)(e) of the Regulations provides that a submission or observation in relation to an application may be made to the planning authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt of the application by the planning authority. 

Where further information or revised plans relating to a planning application are received by a planning authority, the applicant is required under article 35 of the Regulations to place a further advertisement in an approved newspaper and erect an amended site notice to this effect, also advising that a submission or observation in relation to such further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority.  Furthermore, in the case of a planning application accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), submissions may be made within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.     

I am satisfied that the current arrangements for the consideration of planning applications by planning authorities, including the making of submissions or observations by members of the public, allow sufficient time for extensive public participation in the decision-making process and I have no proposals to amend the legislation in this regard.