13 June 2006

Environment

Planning Retention and the European Commission

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of his recent discussions (details supplied) with Environment Commissioner, Mr. Stavros Dimas on the issue of high levels of retrospective planning permissions and Ireland’s compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessments Directive; and his plans to introduce legislation that would reduce the levels of retrospective planning permissions.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): A Reasoned Opinion was received from the European Commission on 5 January 2005 regarding planning enforcement procedures in relation to unauthorised developments for which Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are required. A formal response issued to the Commission on 8 March 2005. On 12 May the European Court of Justice advised the Government of the initiation of legal proceedings by the Commission. A Letter of Formal Notice was received from the European Commission on 4 May 2006 in relation to Ireland’s implementation of the EC Directive 85/337EEC.

As I have already informed the House, I have had useful and informal discussions with Environment Commissioner Dimas. These discussions covered a wide range of issues including that of retrospective planning permissions and compliance with EC Directive 85/337EEC generally. It would not be appropriate to disclose details of these informal discussions, which were without prejudice to any legal proceedings between Ireland and the European Commission.