JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE LOCAL GOVERNMENT:PROPOSED NEW planning amendments by Minister for the Environment John Gormley, relating to schools and renewable energy, have been approved by the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Mr Gormley appeared before the committee yesterday to discuss measures aimed at reducing bureaucracy by fast-tracking certain types of developments.
The Minister said he wanted to exempt certain renewable technologies from planning permission requirements for industrial buildings, business premises and agricultural structures in a bid to combat climate change.
He said he was also introducing exemptions to "expedite the provision of minor school development works and temporary school facilities". The Minister said this involved exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission for small extensions to existing schools.
During his presentation to the committee on the draft Planning and Development Regulations 2008, Mr Gormley said the package of new exemptions involved five classes of renewable technology that included combined heat and power, wind turbines, solar panels, heat pumps and biomass.
Separately, he said his department, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works, was preparing a strategy on flooding.