asked the Minister for the Environment if he considers that the procedure whereby public utility bodies and Government Departments are permitted to by-pass the normal planning requirements by merely consulting with the local authority is satisfactory; and if he will consider subjecting such bodies to more control in this area.

I am not aware of any urgent reasons for an amendment of the present statutory position which requires State Authorities — that is Government Departments, the Commissioners of Public Works and the Land Commission — to consult with planning authorities before undertaking the construction or extension of any building, other than one connected with afforestation, and further requires them to consult with me in connection with any objections to such proposals by planning authorities which they have not been able to resolve by direct consultation. The consultation procedure does not apply to "public utility bodies". Development by such bodies, except where specifically exempt, is subject to planning control in accordance with the provisions of Part IV of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963.

This is not a party issue. Consent was given to a Department in 1973 and acted on in 1981. Because of that consent an ancient village was destroyed. Would the Minister agree that such application should have gone through the normal planning procedure? It would be in keeping with good local democracy if public utility bodies were subjected to the same planning requirements as everybody else.

I am not sure to what the Deputy is referring. A local authority who want to develop in another local authority area must apply for planning permission. In their own area, they cannot go outside their own development plan. To that extent, there is a constraint on local authorities on the type of development they carry out.

I referred to a very ancient village. The problem arose because consent was given to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in 1973. Would the Minister not accept that Government Departments should be subjected to the same planning requirements as other individuals, companies and groups? This is a subject all parties have neglected down the years and I ask the Minister to consider the matter and perhaps bring forward recommendations to this House.

I will consider it. If the Department acted as a public utility they would have had to apply for planning permission. They would not be any different from any other applicant in that regard.