Planning and Development Act, 2000

Making of development plan.

12.—(1) Where the draft development plan has been prepared in accordance with section 11 , the planning authority shall within 2 weeks of the period referred to in section 11 (5)(c)

(a) send notice and a copy of the draft development plan to the Minister, the Board, the prescribed authorities, any town commissioners in the area and any city or county development boards in the area, any town commissioners and city and county development boards within the area, and

(b) publish notice of the preparation of the draft in one or more newspapers circulating in its area.

(2) A notice under subsection (1) shall state that—

(a) a copy of the draft may be inspected at a stated place or places and at stated times during a stated period of not less than 10 weeks (and the copy shall be kept available for inspection accordingly), and

(b) written submissions or observations with respect to the draft made to the planning authority within the stated period will be taken into consideration before the making of the plan.

(3) (a) Where the draft includes any provision relating to any addition to or deletion from the record of protected structures, the planning authority shall serve on each person who is the owner or occupier of the proposed protected structure or the protected structure, as the case may be, a notice of the proposed addition or deletion, including the particulars.

(b) A notice under paragraph (a) shall state—

(i) that a copy of the proposed addition or deletion may be inspected at a stated place or places and at stated times during a stated period of not less than 10 weeks (and the copy shall be kept available for inspection accordingly),

(ii) that written submissions or observations with respect to the proposed addition or deletion made to the planning authority within the stated period will be taken into consideration before the making of the addition or deletion,

(iii) whether or not the proposed addition or deletion was recommended by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, and

(iv) that, if the proposed addition or deletion was recommended by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, the planning authority shall forward to that Minister for his or her observations a copy of any submission or observation made under subparagraph (ii) (and any such observations shall be taken into consideration accordingly).

(4) (a) Not later than 22 weeks after giving notice under subsection (1) and, if appropriate, subsection (3), the manager of a planning authority shall prepare a report on any submissions or observations received under subsection (2) or (3) and submit the report to the members of the authority for their consideration.

(b) A report under paragraph (a) shall—

(i) list the persons or bodies who made submissions or observations under this section,

(ii) summarise the issues raised by the persons or bodies in the submissions or observations, and

(iii) give the response of the manager to the issues raised, taking account of any directions of the members of the authority or the committee under section 11 (4), the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the statutory obligations of any local authority in the area and any relevant policies or objectives of the Government or of any Minister of the Government and, if appropriate, any observations made by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands under subsection (3)(b)(iv).

(5) (a) The members of a planning authority shall consider the draft plan and the report of the manager under subsection (4).

(b) The consideration of a draft plan and the manager's report under paragraph (a) shall be completed within 12 weeks of the submission of the manager's report to the members of the authority.

(6) Where, following the consideration of the draft development plan and the manager's report, it appears to the members of the authority that the draft should be accepted or amended, subject to subsection (7), they may, by resolution, accept or amend the draft and make the development plan accordingly.

(7) (a) In case the proposed amendment would, if made, be a material alteration of the draft concerned, the planning authority shall, not later than 3 weeks after the passing of a resolution under subsection (6), publish notice of the proposed amendment in at least one newspaper circulating in its area.

(b) A notice under paragraph (a) shall state that—

(i) a copy of the proposed amendment of the draft development plan may be inspected at a stated place and at stated times during a stated period of not less than 4 weeks (and the copy shall be kept available for inspection accordingly), and

(ii) written submissions or observations with respect to the proposed amendment of the draft made to the planning authority within the stated period shall be taken into consideration before the making of any amendment.

(8) (a) Not later than 8 weeks after giving notice under subsection (7), the manager of a planning authority shall prepare a report on any submissions or observations received under that subsection and submit the report to the members of the authority for their consideration.

(b) A report under paragraph (a) shall—

(i) list the persons or bodies who made submissions or observations under this section,

(ii) summarise the issues raised by the persons or bodies in the submissions,

(iii) give the response of the manager to the issues raised, taking account of the directions of the members of the authority or the committee under section 11 (4), the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the statutory obligations of any local authority in the area and any relevant policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or of any Minister of the Government.

(9) (a) The members of a planning authority shall consider the amendment and the report of the manager under subsection (8).

(b) The consideration of the amendment and the manager's report under paragraph (a) shall be completed not later than 6 weeks after the submission of the manager's report to the members of the authority.

(10) (a) The members of the authority shall, by resolution, having considered the amendment and the manager's report, make the plan with or without the proposed amendment, except that where they decide to accept the amendment they may do so subject to any modifications to the amendment as they consider appropriate.

(b) The requirements of subsections (7) to (9) shall not apply in relation to modifications made in accordance with paragraph (a).

(11) In making the development plan under subsection (6) or (10), the members shall be restricted to considering the proper planning and sustainable development of the area to which the development plan relates, the statutory obligations of any local authority in the area and any relevant policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the Government.

(12) (a) Where a planning authority makes a development plan, it shall publish a notice of the making of the plan in at least one newspaper circulating in its area.

(b) A notice under this subsection shall state that a copy of the plan is available for inspection at a stated place or places (and the copy shall be kept available for inspection accordingly).

(c) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b), a planning authority shall send a copy of the development plan to the Minister, the prescribed authorities, any adjoining planning authorities, the Board, any town commissioners and city and county development boards within its area.

(13) As soon as may be after making an addition to or a deletion from the record of protected structures under this section, a planning authority shall serve on the owner and on the occupier of the structure concerned a notice of the addition or deletion, including the particulars.

(14) Where a planning authority fails to make a development plan within 2 years of the giving of notice under section 11 (1), notwithstanding any other provision of this Part, the manager shall make the plan subject to the proviso that so much of the plan that has been agreed by the members of the planning authority shall be included as part of the plan as made by the manager.

(15) When considering the draft development plan, or amendments thereto, a planning authority may invite such persons as it considers appropriate to make oral submissions regarding such plan or amendment.

(16) A person shall not question the validity of the development plan by reason only that the procedures as set out under subsections (3) to (5) of section 11 and subsections (1), (4), (5), (6), (8) and (9) of this section were not completed within the time required under the relevant subsection.

(17) A development plan made under this section shall have effect 4 weeks from the day that it is made.