Planning Bill and estates in charge
Seán Ó Fearghaíl raises the conflict between local authorities’ estate-taking obligations and Irish Water’s responsibility for water services. The Ceann Comhairle limits discussion of the Bill’s contents, while the Minister promises a direct response and gives no publication date.
Yesterday I raised the question of the planning Bill, listed 86 on the Government legislation programme, in the context of a dilemma that exists whereby the Planning and Development Act 2000 states that local authorities, when taking estates in charge, must take all services in charge whereas the Act establishing Irish Water gives Irish Water responsibility for the water services. The result of the dilemma currently is that local authorities, such as that in County Kildare, are not taking estates in charge at all. Will that lacuna in the law be addressed via the planning Bill or will there be a protocol brought forward by Government as a matter of urgency to address the difficulty?
Comment on this
One cannot discuss the content of a Bill. Can the Minister tell me when the planning Bill is due?
Comment on this
There is not yet a date, as Deputy Ó Fearghaíl was informed, for its publication but I will ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to communicate directly with him on the other matter he raised.