4th November

Fee for planning applications

Mr. Cuffe: Will the Minister drop the €20 fee for persons to comment on planning applications? [27592/04]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche):  On 23 January 2003, the European Commission issued Ireland with a Reasoned Opinion to the effect that the €20 fee for the making of a submission on a planning application which requires environmental impact assessment is contrary to the public participation provisions of Directive 85/337/EEC on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). A reply, responding to each of the points raised in the Reasoned Opinion, issued to the European Commission on 16 May 2003, set out our contention that the imposition of a €20 participation fee is not in conflict with the provisions of the Directive.

On 22 July 2003, the European Commission issued a press release in which they stated their intention to refer the case to the European Court of Justice. However, no official communication has been received from the Commission to date. I have no proposal to amend the relevant Regulations which reflect an approach endorsed by the Oireachtas in the context of the Planning and Development Act 2000.