COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, January 13, 2014

QUESTION NO.5

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

To ask the Manager to outline the timeline and process involved in the making of the new County Development Plan, and to make a statement on the matter?

REPLY:

The process for making a new County Development Plan is set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended.  The entire process takes up to 99 weeks and is divided into two principal stages as follows: The initial pre-draft plan publication stage of up to 48 weeks and the subsequent draft plan stage of up to 51 weeks.

A new County Development Plan must be made every 6 years.  The first stage of the process is that notice of the review is given to the Minister, the Board (An Bord Pleanala), Prescribed Authorities, adjoining Authorities, Regional Authority and the general public.  Notice of the review must be not later than 4 years after the current Plan was adopted. The current South Dublin County Development Plan was adopted in September 2010 which means that a review must commence no later than September 2014.

There are then a minimum of 8 weeks for submissions, which at this stage of the process, must be strategic in nature and may not relate to land zoning.  The Planning and Development Act 2000 states:-  "As soon as may be after giving notice…a planning authority shall take whatever additional measures it considers necessary to consult with the general public and other interested bodies.'" Without prejudice to the generality of the above, the Act also states:-  "a Planning Authority shall hold public meetings, invite written submissions and may invite oral submissions to be made…".

There are a maximum of 16 weeks from publication of notice to report to Members, which will be by late 2014.  Members then have a further maximum period of 10 weeks to issue directions to the Manager, which must be strategic in nature, consistent with the draft core strategy of the Plan, taking account of the statutory obligations of the Local Authority and any relevant policies of the Government or  Minister.  This would be by February 2015.

A Draft Development Plan must then be prepared within a further period of a maximum of 12 weeks and submitted to the Members.  This would be by May 2015.  Members then have a maximum of 8 weeks to consider and if necessary, amend the Draft Development Plan prior to display.  This would be by mid 2015

There are a further 2 weeks to finalise the Draft Plan for display.  Notice and copies of the Draft Plan are then given to the Minister, the Board, Prescribed Authorities, adjoining Authorities and the general public, followed by a period of not less than 10 weeks public display, during which submissions may be made.  This would be during Autumn 2015

A Manager's report on submissions received must be given to the Members not more than 22 weeks after notice of Draft Plan.  This would be by late 2015.  Members then have a maximum of 12 further weeks to consider and make/amend the Draft Plan.  This would be by Spring 2016 and the draft Plan could be made at that stage if there are no material amendments.  Where proposed amendments to the Draft Plan are 'material', there are a maximum of 3 further weeks to give notice of proposed amendments.

Proposed amendments must then go on public display for a minimum of 4 weeks during which submissions may be made.  The Manager must report to the Members not more than 8 weeks after notice of proposed amendments given.  Members then have maximum of 6 weeks to consider the amendments.  This would take the process into mid 2016.

The County Development Plan must be made within 2 years or else the Plan is deemed to be made and the Plan has effect  4 weeks after the date it is made.  The Planning and Development Act 2000 envisages that the whole process from notice of review to adoption of Plan should take 2 years, although it does state that failure to meet the timescales set out does not invalidate the Plan. 

Whilst the timescales above are set out in the Planning Acts the commencement of the process and the resulting meeting and consultation dates will be the subject of a report to, and discussion at, the O & P & F Committee.