COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 13, 2021
QUESTION NO. 13
QUESTION: Councillor Eoin Ó Broin
To ask the Chief Executive if the, Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities Draft for Consultation, published in August 2021 by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, have any role in the creation of the SDCC County Development Plan for 2022-2028?
REPLY:
Draft Development Plan Guidelines issued from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the 13th August 2021. They will be on stakeholder consultation until the 8th October with the stated expectation that they will be finalised before the end of 2021.
Notwithstanding that the guidelines are in draft form the accompanying circular letter NRUP 04/2021 indicated that planning authorities should have regard to them. It is recognised in the circular that development plans are at different stages of the process and that questions will arise as to how they should be taken into account in ongoing review processes. In this regard, the following considerations arise:
- the stage of the review process the plan in question is at;
- the extent to which matters of process and methodology set out in the Draft Guidelines may apply to the plan under review (i.e. give rise to material addition and/or change), and
- whether there is reasonable scope to address any such applicability as part of the ongoing plan review process, taking into account remaining periods of public consultation, reporting and decision making and any need for environmental assessment.
It is recognised that where a plan is at an advanced stage of the review process it may be preferable to complete the process and make a variation following the completion should this be required. The determination of the way forward is a matter for the local authority.
The Planning Department is currently reviewing the draft guidelines to assess any implications it may have for the review process, noting that the Draft South Dublin Development Plan 2022-2028 is currently on display with only one further public consultation remaining for any amendments that may be made. Once the guidelines have been reviewed, Members will be advised of their implications, if any, for the development plan review.