Sir, - I see that the Irish Planning Institute is concerned by the new planning regulations to be introduced by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey. Under the proposed new rules any objections to a building application must be made within five weeks of the submission of that application. There is a danger that people will not be aware of the application within this limit.
It would be helpful if county councils had some kind of "notice party" system. People concerned about potential developments in their area could express their interest to the council. If any application for development in that particular area was received the council would notify the "notice party". The council would have to charge a fee to cover the administration costs involved.
This would prove to the public that the five-week limit is not an attempt to circumvent the concerns of local residents. - Yours, etc.,
Michael McGuire, Garvery, Burnfoot, Co Donegal.