Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

507 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 508[Mr. B. O’Keeffe.]regard to the overall availability of resources andpriorities under the programme.Local Authority Housing.385. Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister forthe Environment, Heritage and Local Governmentthe reason his Department, throughKilkenny County Council, reduced the grant to aproject (details supplied) in Kilkenny by \30,000;the criteria used; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [5978/05]Minister of State at the Department of theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government(Mr. N. Ahern): My Department has not reducedthe grant to the project referred to in the question.While the level of accommodation-relatedfunding applicable to this type of project is, in thefirst instance, a matter for decision by the localauthority in whose area the project is situated, myDepartment recoups to the authority 90% of suchfunding. In this context, Kilkenny CountyCouncil has been requested to submit detailedinformation to support its proposal to increasethe funding for the project in question. On receiptof this information, the matter will be consideredfurther.Architectural Heritage.386. Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Governmenthis views on the funding for architectural protectiongrants; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [5998/05]Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government (Mr. Roche): I refer to thereply to Questions Nos. 66 and 134 of 9 February2005, which set out the various grant schemes andother measures that are in place to support theprotection of architectural heritage. I am satisfiedthese arrangements afford appropriate supportfor the safeguarding of our architectural heritage.Planning Issues.387. Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Governmentthe status of the \20 charge payable to countycouncils when making an objection to a planningapplication; if this charge has been reviewed bythe European courts; and if it has been found tobe illegal. [6031/05]Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government (Mr. Roche): On 23 January2003, the European Commission issued Irelandwith a reasoned opinion to the effect that the \20fee for the making of a submission on a planningapplication which requires an environmentalimpact assessment is contrary to the public participationprovisions of Directive 85/337/EEC onenvironmental impact assessment. A reply issuedto the European Commission on 16 May 2003responding to each of the points raised in the reasonedopinion and setting out our contention thatthe imposition of a \20 participation fee is not inconflict with the provisions of the directive.On 22 July 2003, the European Commissionissued a press release in which it stated its intentionto refer the case to the European Court ofJustice. No official communication has beenreceived from the Commission to date. MyDepartment has no plans to amend the relevantregulations which reflect an approach endorsedby the Oireachtas in the context of the Planningand Development Act 2000.