Dail Question & Reply

To ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received
representations from the Dunboyne Combined Residents Association expressing
serious concern about a decision of Meath County Council to rezone land for
housing development in areas in flood plains and swamps adjacent to Dunboyne
village; if he plans to take any action as a result of the representations,
particularly in view of the recent serious flooding in the area; and if he will
make a statement on the matter.

- Eamon Gilmore


To ask the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action his
Department is taking to ensure that Meath County Council complies with the
strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area, incorporated in the
Planning and Development Act, 2000, in view of the fact that the Meath County
Council Draft Development Plan infringes the guidelines by rezoning 40 acres
residential of 400 houses and 250 acres of industrial zoning within the de facto
green belt land at Clonee, population 200, and pushing the projected population
in the area well beyond that in the county draft plan, by the rezoning of green
belt lands on the basis of a promised railway line which will not be built
within the timeframe of the plan and in a number of other respects (details
supplied).
- Trevor Sargent.

Ref No: 27103/00 and 27026/00

For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 22nd November, 2000.



REPLY

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr Noel Dempsey):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 298 together.
My Department has received representations from the Dunboyne Combined Residents
Associations expressing concern about proposals in the draft Meath County
Development Plan in respect of the development of Dunboyne and Clonee. One of
the main criticisms is the fact that, in their opinion, the Draft Plan, as it
relates to Dunboyne and Clonee, would contravene the provisions of the Strategic
Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area. This relates primarily to a
proposal in the draft Plan to designate unzoned lands east of the old railway
line between Dunboyne and Clonee for development and to rezone land in Clonee
for both industrial and housing development. The question as to whether these
lands comprise a flood plain was not raised in the correspondence which was
received in my Department prior to the recent flooding.

Similar representations were also made direct to me. However, given my
statutory role as Minister for the Environment and Local Government it would be
inappropriate for me to intervene directly in my capacity as a TD in the
constituency.

The adoption of the development plan is a matter for the elected members of
Meath County Council. Extensive public consultation is necessary before a plan
may be adopted. The draft Development Plan for County Meath was put on public
display from 27 March 2000 to 30 June 2000. I understand that a large number of
submissions in relation to the draft Plan were received by Meath County Council,
including those from the Dunboyne Combined Residents Association and that,
following consideration of submissions received, an amended draft plan has now
been put on public display from 13 November 2000 to 20 December 2000.
Following consideration of any further submissions received in respect of the

amended draft plan, it will be a matter for the elected members of Meath County
Council to adopt a new plan.

As regards compliance with the requirements of the Strategic Planning Guidelines
for the Greater Dublin Area, it should be noted that the Guidelines are
monitored and kept under review by the three groups under whose direction they
were prepared. These are a Steering Committee, a Technical Working Group and a
Local and Regional Authority Members Committee. Statutory recognition for the
Guidelines is provided for in the Planning and Development Act, 2000. The
relevant provisions, which will come into force on 1 January, 2001, require
planning authorities in the area to have regard to the guidelines when making
and adopting a development plan.

Pending the commencement of the statutory provision, I formally requested, in
April 1999, that each local authority in the Greater Dublin Area should ensure
that its Development Plan is in line with the strategy set out in the Strategic
Planning Guidelines. A further letter of 14 August, 2000 also asked planning
authorities to advise the Department as to progress to date in this regard. My
Department is awaiting a response from Meath County Council.

The Minister for the Environment and Local Government is a statutory consultee
for all development plans. In accordance with normal practice, the Department,
on my behalf, has examined the draft development plan for Meath. In the light
of that examination and the papers received, my Department is writing to Meath
County Council seeking comments on the compatibility of the proposals for
Dunboyne and Clonee with the Strategic Planning Guidelines, reminding the
Council of my formal request of April 1999 that it should ensure that its draft
plan is in line with the Strategic Planning Guidelines and asking for a full
report within four weeks. Pending receipt of the report no decision will be
taken on the Councils application for an extension of time to adopt the new
development plan.