Planning and Development Act, 2000

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Ministerial directions regarding development plans.

31.—(1) Where the Minister considers that any draft development plan fails to set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area of a planning authority or otherwise significantly fails to comply with this Act, the Minister may, for stated reasons, direct the authority to take such specified measures as he or she may require to ensure that the development plan, when made, is in compliance with this Act and, notwithstanding the requirements of Chapter I, the authority shall comply with any such direction.

(2) Where the Minister considers that any development plan fails to set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area of the authority or otherwise significantly fails to comply with this Act, the Minister may, for stated reasons, direct the authority to take such specified measures, as he or she may require to review or vary the development plan to ensure compliance with this Act and the authority shall comply with any such direction.

(3) Where the Minister directs a planning authority to take specified measures under subsection (2), he or she may specify any of those provisions of Chapter I which are to apply in respect of such specified measures and any other provisions of that Chapter shall be disregarded.

(4) In exercising any power conferred on them by this Act, neither the manager nor the elected members of any planning authority shall exercise the power in conflict with any direction which the Minister may give under subsection (1) or (2).

(5) The Minister shall cause a copy of any direction issued under this section to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(6) A planning authority shall make available for inspection by members of the public any direction issued to it under this section.