Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1983

Oral hearings.

15.—(1) The Board shall have an absolute discretion to hold an oral hearing of any reference or appeal to the Board which is not a reference or appeal to which subsection (2) of this section applies.

(2) (a) This subsection applies to any reference or appeal to the Board which is of a class or description which may, for the time being, be prescribed for the purposes of this subsection.

(b) Regulations made for the purposes of this subsection may include provisions requiring the Board to hold, either generally or in such cases as may be specified in the regulations, oral hearings of references or appeals which are of a class or description so specified.

(3) Where the Board is requested to hold an oral hearing of a reference or appeal (other than a reference or appeal to which subsection (2) of this section applies) and decides to determine the reference or appeal without an oral hearing, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) the Board shall serve notice of its decision on the person who requested such hearing and the notice shall require that person to make, within a period specified in the notice (being a period of not less than fourteen days beginning on the date of service of the notice), to the Board in writing such submissions or further submissions (if any) as he thinks fit in relation to the reference or appeal, and

(b) the Board shall not proceed to determine the reference or appeal until after the expiration of the period so specified.