PART 3

Amendments of Principal Act (including amendments consequential on Part 2)

6 .— Section 2(1) of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting the following definition after the definition of “Minister”:

“ ‘ National Spatial Strategy ’ means the ‘National Spatial Strategy: 2002 – 2020’ published by the Government on 28 November 2002, or any document published by the Government which amends or replaces that Strategy;”,

(b) by inserting the following definition after the definition of “party to an appeal or referral”:

“ ‘ permission ’ means a permission granted under section 34 or 37G, as appropriate;”,

(c) by inserting the following definitions after the definition of “statutory undertaker”:

“ ‘ strategic downstream gas pipeline ’ means any proposed gas pipeline, other than an upstream gas pipeline, which is designed to operate at 16 bar or greater, and is longer than 20 kilometres in length;

‘ strategic gas infrastructure development ’ means any proposed development comprising or for the purposes of a strategic downstream gas pipeline or a strategic upstream gas pipeline, and associated terminals, buildings and installations, whether above or below ground, including any associated discharge pipe;

‘ strategic infrastructure development ’ means—

(a) any proposed development in respect of which a notice has been served under section 37B(4)(a),

(b) any proposed development by a local authority referred to in section 175(1) or 226(6),

(c) any proposed development referred to in section 181A(1),

(d) any proposed development referred to in section 182A(1),

(e) any proposed strategic gas infrastructure development referred to in section 182C(1),

(f) any scheme or proposed road development referred to in section 215,

(g) any proposed railway works referred to in section 37(3) of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 (as amended by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006), or

(h) any compulsory acquisition of land referred to in section 214, 215A or 215B, being an acquisition related to development specified in any of the preceding paragraphs of this definition;

‘ Strategic Infrastructure Division ’ means the division of the Board referred to in section 112A(1);

‘ strategic upstream gas pipeline ’ means so much of any gas pipeline proposed to be operated or constructed—

(a) as part of a gas production project, or

(b) for the purpose of conveying unprocessed natural gas from one or more than one such project to a processing plant or terminal or final coastal landing terminal,

as will be situate in the functional area or areas of a planning authority or planning authorities;”,

and

(d) in the definitions of “unauthorised structure”, “unauthorised use” and “unauthorised works”, by substituting “or under section 34 or 37G of this Act” for “or under section 34 of this Act” in each place where those words occur.

7 .— Section 7(2) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (t):

“(tt) particulars of any development referred to in section 179(4)(b),”.

8 .— (1) Section 34(4) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (a):

“(a) conditions for regulating the development or use of any land which adjoins, abuts or is adjacent to the land to be developed and which is under the control of the applicant if the imposition of such conditions appears to the planning authority—

(i) to be expedient for the purposes of or in connection with the development authorised by the permission, or

(ii) to be appropriate, where any aspect or feature of that adjoining, abutting or adjacent land constitutes an amenity for the public or a section of the public, for the purposes of conserving that amenity for the public or that section of the public (and the effect of the imposition of conditions for that purpose would not be to burden unduly the person in whose favour the permission operates);”.

(2) Section 34(5) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting “the person carrying out the development; if the planning authority and that person cannot agree on the matter the matter may be referred to the Board for determination” for “the person to whom the permission is granted and that in default of agreement the matter is to be referred to the Board for determination”.

9 .— Section 35 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following subsections for subsections (4) to (6):

“(4) If the planning authority considers that there are good grounds for its being able to form the opinion under subsection (1) in relation to an application for permission in respect of the development concerned and, accordingly, to exercise the power under subsection (5) to refuse that permission, it shall serve a notice in writing on the applicant to that effect and that notice shall—

(a) specify the failures to comply that the authority intends to take into consideration with regard to the proposed exercise of that power, and

(b) invite the applicant to make submissions to the authority, within a period specified in the notice, as to why the applicant considers that the authority should not exercise that power (whether because the applicant contends the views of the authority in relation to compliance by the applicant or any other person with any previous permission, or any condition to which it is subject, are incorrect or that there are not good grounds for forming the opinion under subsection (1)).

(5) If the planning authority, having considered any submissions made to it in accordance with a notice under subsection (4), proceeds to form the opinion under subsection (1) in relation to the application concerned it shall decide to refuse to grant the permission concerned and notify the applicant accordingly.

(6) The applicant may, within 8 weeks from the receipt of that notification, notwithstanding sections 50 and 50A, apply, by motion on notice to the planning authority, to the High Court for an order annulling the planning authority’s decision and, on the hearing of such application, the High Court may, as it considers appropriate, confirm the decision of the authority, annul the decision and direct the authority to consider the applicant’s application for planning permission without reference to the provisions of this section or make such other order as it thinks fit.

(6A) If, in pursuance of subsection (6), the High Court directs the planning authority to consider the applicant’s application for planning permission without reference to the provisions of this section, the planning authority shall make its decision on the application within the period of 8 weeks from the date the order of the High Court in the matter is perfected but this subsection is subject to the provisions of section 34(8) as applied to the foregoing case by subsection (6B).

(6B) For the purposes of the foregoing case the provisions of section 34(8) shall apply with the following modifications:

(a) in paragraph (a) of section 34(8), after “paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e)”, there shall be inserted “and section 35(6A)”;

(b) for the reference in paragraph (b) of section 34(8) to “8 weeks of the receipt of a planning application” there shall be substituted “8 weeks of the date the order of the High Court in the matter is perfected”;

(c) in paragraph (f) of section 34(8), after “paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e)”, there shall be inserted “, the period specified in section 35(6A) or, as the case may be, the period specified in paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (e) as that paragraph is applied by virtue of section 35(6B)”; and

(d) any other necessary modifications.

(6C) No appeal shall lie to the Board from a decision of a planning authority to refuse to grant planning permission under subsection (5).”.

10 .— Section 37(4) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting the following paragraphs after paragraph (b):

“(c) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a body or organisation referred to in paragraph (d) shall be entitled to appeal to the Board against a decision by a planning authority on an application for development (being development in respect of which an environmental impact statement was required to be submitted to the planning authority in accordance with section 172) before the expiration of the appropriate period within the meaning of that subsection.

(d) The body or organisation mentioned in paragraph (c) is a body or organisation (not being a State authority, a public authority or a governmental body or agency)—

(i) the aims or objectives of which relate to the promotion of environmental protection,

(ii) which has, during the period of 12 months preceding the making of the appeal, pursued those aims or objectives, and

(iii) which satisfies such additional requirements (if any) as are prescribed under paragraph (e).

(e) The Minister may prescribe additional requirements which a body or organisation of the foregoing kind must satisfy in order to make an appeal under paragraph (c), being requirements of a general nature and for the purposes of promoting transparency and accountability in the operation of such organisations, including requirements—

(i) in relation to its membership,

(ii) that the pursuit of its aims or objectives be otherwise than for profit,

(iii) in relation to the possession of a specified legal personality and the possession of a constitution or rules,

(iv) that the area of environmental protection to which its aims or objectives relate is relevant to the class of matter into which the decision, the subject of the appeal, falls.

(f) The Board may dismiss any appeal made under paragraph (c) where it considers that the body or organisation concerned does not satisfy the requirements of paragraph (d)(i), (ii) or (iii).”.

11 .— Section 38(2) of the Principal Act is amended by inserting “and the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003” after “those regulations,”.

12 .— Section 41 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by substituting “section 34, 37 or 37G” for “sections 34 and 37” in each place where those words occur, and

(b) by inserting “or the Board” after “planning authority” where those words secondly occur.

13 .— The following sections are substituted for section 50 of the Principal Act:

“Judicial review of applications, appeals, referrals and other matters.

50.— (1) Where a question of law arises on any matter with which the Board is concerned, the Board may refer the question to the High Court for decision.

(2) A person shall not question the validity of any decision made or other act done by—

(a) a planning authority, a local authority or the Board in the performance or purported performance of a function under this Act,

(b) the Board in the performance or purported performance of a function transferred under Part XIV, or

(c) a local authority in the performance or purported performance of a function conferred by an enactment specified in section 214 relating to the compulsory acquisition of land,

otherwise than by way of an application for judicial review under Order 84 of the Rules of the Superior Courts (S.I. No. 15 of 1986) (the ‘Order’).

(3) Subsection (2)(a) does not apply to an approval or consent referred to in Chapter I or II of Part VI.

(4) A planning authority, a local authority or the Board may, at any time after the bringing of an application for leave to apply for judicial review of any decision or other act to which subsection (2) applies and which relates to a matter for the time being before the authority or the Board, as the case may be, apply to the High Court to stay the proceedings pending the making of a decision by the authority or the Board in relation to the matter concerned.

(5) On the making of such an application, the High Court may, where it considers that the matter before the authority or the Board is within the jurisdiction of the authority or the Board, make an order staying the proceedings concerned on such terms as it thinks fit.

(6) Subject to subsection (8), an application for leave to apply for judicial review under the Order in respect of a decision or other act to which subsection (2)(a) applies shall be made within the period of 8 weeks beginning on the date of the decision or, as the case may be, the date of the doing of the act by the planning authority, the local authority or the Board, as appropriate.

(7) Subject to subsection (8), an application for leave to apply for judicial review under the Order in respect of a decision or other act to which subsection (2)(b) or (c) applies shall be made within the period of 8 weeks beginning on the date on which notice of the decision or act was first sent (or as may be the requirement under the relevant enactment, functions under which are transferred under Part XIV or which is specified in section 214, was first published).

(8) The High Court may extend the period provided for in subsection (6) or (7) within which an application for leave referred to in that subsection may be made but shall only do so if it is satisfied that—

(a) there is good and sufficient reason for doing so, and

(b) the circumstances that resulted in the failure to make the application for leave within the period so provided were outside the control of the applicant for the extension.

(9) References in this section to the Order shall be construed as including references to the Order as amended or replaced (with or without modification) by rules of court.

Section 50: supplemental provisions.

50A.— (1) In this section—

‘ Court ’, where used without qualification, means the High Court (but this definition shall not be construed as meaning that subsections (2) to (6) and (9) do not extend to and govern the exercise by the Supreme Court of jurisdiction on any appeal that may be made);

‘ Order ’ shall be construed in accordance with section 50;

‘ section 50 leave ’ means leave to apply for judicial review under the Order in respect of a decision or other act to which section 50(2) applies.

(2) An application for section 50 leave shall be made by motion on notice (grounded in the manner specified in the Order in respect of an ex parte motion for leave)—

(a) if the application relates to a decision made or other act done by a planning authority or local authority in the performance or purported performance of a function under this Act, to the authority concerned and, in the case of a decision made or other act done by a planning authority on an application for permission, to the applicant for the permission where he or she is not the applicant for leave,

(b) if the application relates to a decision made or other act done by the Board on an appeal or referral, to the Board and each party or each other party, as the case may be, to the appeal or referral,

(c) if the application relates to a decision made or other act done by the Board on an application for permission or approval, to the Board and to the applicant for the permission or approval where he or she is not the applicant for leave,

(d) if the application relates to a decision made or other act done by the Board or a local authority in the performance or purported performance of a function referred to in section 50(2)(b) or (c), to the Board or the local authority concerned, and

(e) to any other person specified for that purpose by order of the High Court.

(3) The Court shall not grant section 50 leave unless it is satisfied that—

(a) there are substantial grounds for contending that the decision or act concerned is invalid or ought to be quashed, and

(b) (i) the applicant has a substantial interest in the matter which is the subject of the application, or

(ii) where the decision or act concerned relates to a development identified in or under regulations made under section 176, for the time being in force, as being development which may have significant effects on the environment, the applicant—

(I) is a body or organisation (other than a State authority, a public authority or governmental body or agency) the aims or objectives of which relate to the promotion of environmental protection,

(II) has, during the period of 12 months preceding the date of the application, pursued those aims or objectives, and

(III) satisfies such requirements (if any) as a body or organisation, if it were to make an appeal under section 37(4)(c), would have to satisfy by virtue of section 37(4)(d)(iii) (and, for this purpose, any requirement prescribed under section 37(4)(e)(iv) shall apply as if the reference in it to the class of matter into which the decision, the subject of the appeal, falls were a reference to the class of matter into which the decision or act, the subject of the application for section 50 leave, falls).

(4) A substantial interest for the purposes of subsection (3)(b)(i) is not limited to an interest in land or other financial interest.

(5) If the court grants section 50 leave, no grounds shall be relied upon in the application for judicial review under the Order other than those determined by the Court to be substantial under subsection (3)(a).

(6) The Court may, as a condition for granting section 50 leave, require the applicant for such leave to give an undertaking as to damages.

(7) The determination of the Court of an application for section 50 leave or of an application for judicial review on foot of such leave shall be final and no appeal shall lie from the decision of the Court to the Supreme Court in either case save with leave of the Court which leave shall only be granted where the Court certifies that its decision involves a point of law of exceptional public importance and that it is desirable in the public interest that an appeal should be taken to the Supreme Court.

(8) Subsection (7) shall not apply to a determination of the Court in so far as it involves a question as to the validity of any law having regard to the provisions of the Constitution.

(9) If an application is made for judicial review under the Order in respect of part only of a decision or other act to which section 50(2) applies, the Court may, if it thinks fit, declare to be invalid or quash the part concerned or any provision thereof without declaring invalid or quashing the remainder of the decision or other act or part of the decision or other act, and if the Court does so, it may make any consequential amendments to the remainder of the decision or other act or the part thereof that it considers appropriate.

(10) The Court shall, in determining an application for section 50 leave or an application for judicial review on foot of such leave, act as expeditiously as possible consistent with the administration of justice.

(11) On an appeal from a determination of the Court in respect of an application referred to in subsection (10), the Supreme Court shall—

(a) have jurisdiction to determine only the point of law certified by the Court under subsection (7) (and to make only such order in the proceedings as follows from such determination), and

(b) in determining the appeal, act as expeditiously as possible consistent with the administration of justice.

(12) Rules of court may make provision for the expeditious hearing of applications for section 50 leave and applications for judicial review on foot of such leave.”.

14 .— Section 104(1) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting “9 ordinary members” for “7 other ordinary members”.

15 .— Section 106 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by substituting the following subsections for subsections (1) and (2):

“(1) The Minister shall appoint the 9 ordinary members of the Board as follows:

(a) 2 members shall be appointed from amongst persons nominated for such appointment by such organisations that, in the Minister’s opinion, are representative of persons whose professions or occupations relate to physical planning, engineering and architecture as may be prescribed;

(b) 2 members shall be appointed from amongst persons nominated for such appointment by such organisations that, in the Minister’s opinion, are concerned with economic development, the promotion of and carrying out of development, the provision of infrastructure or the development of land or otherwise connected with the construction industry as may be prescribed;

(c) 2 members shall be appointed from among persons nominated for such appointment by such—

(i) organisations that, in the Minister’s opinion, are representative of the interests of local government,

(ii) bodies representing farming, and

(iii) trade unions,

as may be prescribed;

(d) 2 members shall be appointed from among persons nominated for such appointment by such—

(i) organisations that, in the Minister’s opinion, are representative of persons concerned with the protection and preservation of the environment and of amenities,

(ii) voluntary bodies and bodies having charitable objects,

(iii) bodies that, in the Minister’s opinion, have a special interest or expertise in matters relating to rural and local community development, the promotion of the Irish language or the promotion of heritage, the arts and culture,

(iv) bodies that are representative of people with disabilities, and

(v) bodies that are representative of young people,

as may be prescribed;

(e) one member shall be appointed from among the officers of the Minister who are established civil servants for the purposes of the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 .

(2) The Minister shall prescribe at least 2 organisations for the purposes of each of paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (1).”,

(b) in subsection (4), by substituting “paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d)” for “paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f)”, and

(c) in subsection (5), by substituting “subsection (1)(e)” for “subsection (1)(g)”.

16 .— Section 108(4) of the Principal Act is amended, in paragraph (a), by substituting, “section 106(1)(e)” for “section 106(1)(g)”.

17 .— Section 110 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following subsections for subsection (1):

“(1) The chairperson and, subject to the overall direction of the chairperson or where subsection (1A) applies, the deputy chairperson shall each have the function of—

(a) ensuring the efficient discharge of the business of the Board, and

(b) arranging the distribution of the business of the Board among its members.

(1A) The functions referred to in subsection (1) shall also fall to be performed by the deputy chairperson where the chairperson is not available or where the office of chairperson is vacant.

(1B) The chairperson may assign to any ordinary member any function necessary to ensure the best or most efficient discharge of the business of the Board.

(1C) The chairperson, or the deputy chairperson where the chairperson is not available or where the office of chairperson is vacant, shall take all practical steps to ensure that the organisation and disposition of the staff and resources of the Board are such as to enable the Strategic Infrastructure Division to discharge its business expeditiously.”.

18 .— Section 112 of the Principal Act is amended by adding the following subsection after subsection (3):

“(4) This section is without prejudice to section 112A.”.

19 .— The following section is inserted after section 112 of the Principal Act:

“Strategic Infrastructure Division.

112A.— (1) A division of the Board which shall be known as the Strategic Infrastructure Division is established on the commencement of section 19 of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006.

(2) That division is in addition to any division for the time being constituted under section 112.

(3) The Strategic Infrastructure Division—

(a) shall, subject to subsections (8) and (9), determine any matter falling to be determined by the Board under this Act in relation to strategic infrastructure development, and

(b) shall determine any other matter falling to be determined by the Board under this or any other enactment, including any class of appeals or referrals, that the chairperson or the deputy chairperson may from time to time assign to it.

(4) For the purpose of business of either of the foregoing kinds, the Strategic Infrastructure Division shall have all the functions of the Board.

(5) The Strategic Infrastructure Division shall consist of the chairperson and the deputy chairperson and 3 other ordinary members nominated by the chairperson to be, for the time being, members of the Division.

(6) The chairperson may authorise any other ordinary member to act in place of any member of the Strategic Infrastructure Division referred to in subsection (5) where the latter member is absent.

(7) The quorum for a meeting of the Strategic Infrastructure Division shall be 3.

(8) Either—

(a) the chairperson or, in his or her absence, the deputy chairperson, or

(b) a person acting as chairperson of a meeting of the Division,

may, at any stage before a decision is made by the Division, transfer the consideration of any matter from the Strategic Infrastructure Division to a meeting of all available members of the Board where he or she considers the matter to be of particular complexity or significance.

(9) The chairperson may, if he or she considers that the issues arising in respect of any particular case of strategic infrastructure development, or any particular class or classes of such case, are not of sufficient complexity or significance as to warrant that case, or that class or those classes of case, being dealt with by the Strategic Infrastructure Division, transfer the consideration of that case, or that class or those classes of case, to another division or part of the Board.”.

20 .— The following section is substituted for section 125 of the Principal Act:

“Appeals, referrals and applications with which the Board is concerned.

125.— This Chapter shall apply—

(a) to appeals and referrals to the Board, and

(b) to the extent provided, to applications made to the Board under section 37E and any other matter with which the Board may be concerned,

but shall not apply to appeals under section 182(4)(b).”.

21 .— The following section is substituted for section 128 of the Principal Act:

“Submission of documents, etc. to Board by planning authorities.

128.— (1) Where an appeal or referral is made to the Board the planning authority concerned shall, within a period of 2 weeks beginning on the day on which a copy of the appeal or referral is sent to it by the Board, submit to the Board—

(a) in the case of an appeal under section 37—

(i) a copy of the planning application concerned and of any drawings, maps, particulars, evidence, environmental impact statement, other written study or further information received or obtained by it from the applicant in accordance with regulations under this Act,

(ii) a copy of any submission or observation made in accordance with regulations under this Act in respect of the planning application,

(iii) a copy of any report prepared by or for the planning authority in relation to the planning application, and

(iv) a copy of the decision of the planning authority in respect of the planning application and a copy of the notification of the decision given to the applicant,

(b) in the case of any other appeal or referral, any information or documents in its possession which is or are relevant to that matter.

(2) The Board, in determining an appeal or referral, may take into account any fact, submission or observation mentioned, made or comprised in any document or other information submitted under subsection (1).”.

22 .— The following sections are substituted for section 134 (as amended by the Local Government Act 2001 ) of the Principal Act:

“Oral hearings of appeals, referrals and applications.

134.— (1) The Board may in its absolute discretion, hold an oral hearing of an appeal, a referral under section 5 or an application under section 37E.

(2) (a) A party to an appeal or a referral under section 5 or an applicant under section 37E or any person who makes a submission or observation under section 37E may request an oral hearing of the appeal, referral or application, as appropriate.

(b) (i) A request for an oral hearing of an appeal, referral or application shall be made in writing to the Board and shall be accompanied by such fee (if any) as may be payable in respect of the request in accordance with section 144.

(ii) A request for an oral hearing of an appeal, referral or application which is not accompanied by such fee (if any) as may be payable in respect of the request shall not be considered by the Board.

(c) (i) A request by an appellant for an oral hearing of an appeal under section 37 shall be made within the appropriate period referred to in that section and any request received by the Board after the expiration of that period shall not be considered by the Board.

(ii) Where a provision of this Act, other than sections 37 and 254(6), authorising an appeal to the Board enables the appeal only to be made within, or before the expiration of, a specified period or before a specified day, a request by an appellant for an oral hearing of an appeal may only be made within, or before the expiration of, the specified period or before the specified day and any request for an oral hearing not so received by the Board shall not be considered by the Board.

(iii) A request by a person making a referral, by an applicant under section 37E or by an appellant under section 254(6) for an oral hearing of the referral, application or appeal, as the case may be, shall accompany the referral, application or appeal, and any request for an oral hearing received by the Board, other than a request which accompanies the referral, application or appeal, shall not be considered by the Board.

(d) A request by a party to an appeal or referral other than the appellant, or by a person who makes a submission or observation in relation to an application under section 37E, for an oral hearing shall be made—

(i) in respect of an appeal or referral, within the period referred to in section 129(2)(a) within which the party may make submissions or observations to the Board in relation to the appeal or referral,

(ii) in respect of an application under section 37E, within the period specified in a notice under that section within which the person may make submissions or observations to the Board in relation to the application,

and any such request received by the Board after the expiration of that period shall not be considered by the Board.

(3) Where the Board is requested to hold an oral hearing of an appeal, referral or application and decides to determine the appeal, referral or application without an oral hearing, the Board shall serve notice of its decision on—

(a) the person who requested the hearing and on each other party to the appeal or referral or, as appropriate, (unless he or she was the requester) the applicant under section 37E, and

(b) each person who has made submissions or observations to the Board in relation to the appeal, referral or application (not being the person who was the requester).

(4) (a) A request for an oral hearing may be withdrawn at any time.

(b) Where, following a withdrawal of a request for an oral hearing under paragraph (a), the appeal, referral or application falls to be determined without an oral hearing, the Board shall give notice that it falls to be so determined—

(i) to each other party to the appeal or referral or, as appropriate, (unless he or she was the person who withdrew the request) the applicant under section 37E, and

(ii) to each person who has made submissions or observations to the Board in relation to the appeal, referral or application (not being the person who withdrew the request).

Further power to hold oral hearings.

134A.— (1) Where the Board considers it necessary or expedient for the purposes of making a determination in respect of any of its functions under this Act or any other enactment, it may, in its absolute discretion, hold an oral hearing and shall, in addition to any other requirements under this Act or other enactment, as appropriate, consider the report and any recommendations of the person holding the oral hearing before making such determination.

(2) Section 135 shall apply to any oral hearing held in accordance with subsection (1) and that section shall be construed accordingly.

(3) This section is in addition to section 134.”.

23 .— Section 135 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by substituting the following subsections for subsections (1) to (3):

“(1) The Board or an employee of the Board duly authorised by the Board may assign a person to conduct an oral hearing of an appeal, referral or application on behalf of the Board.

(2) The person conducting an oral hearing of an appeal, referral or application shall have discretion as to the conduct of the hearing and shall conduct the hearing expeditiously and without undue formality (but subject to any direction given by the Board under subsection (2A)).

(2A) The Board may give a direction to the person conducting an oral hearing that he or she shall require persons intending to appear at the hearing to submit to him or her, in writing and in advance of the hearing, the points or a summary of the arguments they propose to make at the hearing; where such a direction is given that person shall comply with it (and, accordingly, is enabled to make such a requirement).

(2B) Subject to the foregoing provisions, the person conducting the oral hearing—

(a) shall decide the order of appearance of persons at the hearing,

(b) shall permit any person to appear in person or to be represented by another person,

(c) may limit the time within which each person may make points or arguments (including arguments in refutation of arguments made by others at the hearing), or question the evidence of others, at the hearing,

(d) may refuse to allow the making of a point or an argument if—

(i) the point or a summary of the argument has not been submitted in advance to the person in accordance with a requirement made pursuant to a direction given under subsection (2A),

(ii) the point or argument is not relevant to the subject matter of the hearing, or

(iii) it is considered necessary so as to avoid undue repetition of the same point or argument,

(e) may hear a person other than a person who has made submissions or observations to the Board in relation to the subject matter of the hearing if it is considered appropriate in the interests of justice to allow the person to be heard.

(3) A person conducting an oral hearing of any appeal, application or referral may require any officer of a planning authority or a local authority to give to him or her any information in relation to the appeal, application or referral which he or she reasonably requires for the purposes of the appeal, application or referral, and it shall be the duty of the officer to comply with the requirement.”,

and

(b) by substituting in subsections (4), (5) and (8), “appeal, referral or application” for “appeal or referral” in each place where those words occur.

24 .— Section 138(1) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (a):

“(a) where, having considered the grounds of appeal or referral or any other matter to which, by virtue of this Act, the Board may have regard in dealing with or determining the appeal or referral, the Board is of the opinion that the appeal or referral—

(i) is vexatious, frivolous or without substance or foundation, or

(ii) is made with the sole intention of delaying the development or the intention of securing the payment of money, gifts, consideration or other inducement by any person,”.

25 .— Section 140 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by substituting the following subsection for subsection (1):

“(1) (a) A person who has made—

(i) an appeal,

(ii) a planning application to which an appeal relates,

(iii) a referral,

(iv) an application for permission or approval (as may be appropriate) in respect of a strategic infrastructure development,

may withdraw, in writing, the appeal, application or referral at any time before that appeal, application, or referral is determined by the Board.

(b) As soon as maybe after receipt of a withdrawal, the Board shall notify each other party or person who has made submissions or observations on the appeal, application or referral of the withdrawal.”,

and

(b) in subsection (2)(a), by inserting “an application for permission or approval (as may be appropriate) in respect of a strategic infrastructure development,” after “a planning application to which an appeal relates,”.

26 .— The following section is substituted for section 143 of the Principal Act:

“Board to have regard to certain policies and objectives.

143.— (1) The Board shall, in performing its functions, have regard to—

(a) the policies and objectives for the time being of the Government, a State authority, the Minister, planning authorities and any other body which is a public authority whose functions have, or may have, a bearing on the proper planning and sustainable development of cities, towns or other areas, whether urban or rural,

(b) the national interest and any effect the performance of the Board’s functions may have on issues of strategic economic or social importance to the State, and

(c) the National Spatial Strategy and any regional planning guidelines for the time being in force.

(2) In this section ‘ public authority ’ means any body established by or under statute which is for the time being declared, by regulations made by the Minister, to be a public authority for the purposes of this section.”.

27 .— Section 144(1) of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting “or in respect of a strategic infrastructure development (including an application under section 146B or the submission of an environmental impact statement under 146C)” after “under section 37(5)”, and

(b) by substituting “appeals, referrals and applications” for “appeals and referrals”.

28 .— Section 145(1) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (b):

“(b) in case—

(i) the decision of the planning authority in relation to an appeal or referral is confirmed or varied and the Board, in determining the appeal or referral, does not accede in substance to the grounds of appeal or referral, or

(ii) the appeal or referral is decided, dismissed under section 138 or withdrawn under section 140 and the Board, in any of those cases, considers that the appeal or referral was made with the intention of delaying the development or securing a monetary gain by a party to the appeal or referral or any other person,

the Board may, if it so thinks proper, direct the appellant or person making the referral to pay—

(I) to the planning authority, such sum as the Board, in its absolute discretion, specifies as compensation to the planning authority for the expense occasioned to it in relation to the appeal or referral,

(II) to any of the other parties to the appeal or referral, such sum as the Board, in its absolute discretion, specifies as compensation to the party for the expense occasioned to him or her in relation to the appeal or referral, and

(III) to the Board, such sum as the Board, in its absolute discretion, specifies as compensation to the Board towards the expense incurred by the Board in relation to the appeal or referral.”.

29 .— Section 146 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following subsections for subsections (3) and (4):

“(3) Where, during the consideration by it of any matter falling to be decided by it in performance of a function under or transferred by this Act or any other enactment, the Board either—

(a) is required by or under this Act or that other enactment to supply to any person documents, maps, particulars or other information in relation to the matter, or

(b) considers it appropriate, in the exercise of its discretion, to supply to any person such documents, maps, particulars or information (‘relevant material or information’),

subsection (4) applies as regards compliance with that requirement or such supply in the exercise of that discretion.

(4) It shall be sufficient compliance with the requirement referred to in subsection (3) for the Board to do both of the following (or, as appropriate, the Board, in the exercise of the discretion referred to in that subsection, may do both of the following), namely:

(a) make the relevant material or information available for inspection—

(i) at the offices of the Board or any other place, or

(ii) by electronic means;

and

(b) notify the person concerned that the relevant material or information is so available for inspection.

(5) Within 3 days following the making of a decision on any matter falling to be decided by it in performance of a function under or transferred by this Act or under any other enactment, the documents relating to the matter—

(a) shall be made available by the Board for inspection at the offices of the Board by members of the public, and

(b) may be made available by the Board for such inspection—

(i) at any other place, or

(ii) by electronic means,

as the Board considers appropriate.

(6) Copies of the documents referred to in subsection (5) and of extracts from such documents shall be made available for purchase at the offices of the Board, or such other places as the Board may determine, for a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making the copy.

(7) The documents referred to in subsection (5) shall be made available by the means referred to in paragraph (a) of that subsection for a period of at least 5 years beginning on the third day following the making by the Board of the decision on the matter concerned.”.

30 .— The following Chapter is inserted after Chapter III of Part VI of the Principal Act:

“Chapter IV

Additional powers of Board in relation to permissions, decisions, approvals, etc.

Amendments of permissions, etc. of clerical or technical nature.

146A.— (1) Subject to subsection (2)—

(a) a planning authority or the Board, as may be appropriate, may amend a planning permission granted by it, or

(b) the Board may amend any decision made by it in performance of a function under or transferred by this Act or under any other enactment,

for the purposes of—

(i) correcting any clerical error therein,

(ii) facilitating the doing of any thing pursuant to the permission or decision where the doing of that thing may reasonably be regarded as having been contemplated by a particular provision of the permission or decision or the terms of the permission or decision taken as a whole but which was not expressly provided for in the permission or decision, or

(iii) otherwise facilitating the operation of the permission or decision.

(2) A planning authority or the Board shall not exercise the powers under subsection (1) if to do so would, in its opinion, result in a material alteration of the terms of the development, the subject of the permission or decision concerned.

(3) A planning authority or the Board, before it decides whether to exercise the powers under subsection (1) in a particular case, may invite submissions in relation to the matter to be made to it by any person who made submissions or observations to the planning authority or the Board in relation to the permission or other matter concerned, and shall have regard to any submissions made to it on foot of that invitation.

(4) In this section ‘term’ includes a condition.

Alteration by Board of strategic infrastructure development on request made of it.

146B.— (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (8) and section 146C, the Board may, on the request of any person who is carrying out or intending to carry out a strategic infrastructure development, alter the terms of the development the subject of a planning permission, approval or other consent granted under this Act.

(2) (a) As soon as practicable after the making of such a request, the Board shall make a decision as to whether the making of the alteration to which the request relates would constitute the making of a material alteration of the terms of the development concerned.

(b) Before making a decision under this subsection, the Board may invite submissions in relation to the matter to be made to it by such person or class of person as the Board considers appropriate (which class may comprise the public if, in the particular case, the Board determines that it shall do so); the Board shall have regard to any submissions made to it on foot of that invitation.

(3) If the Board decides that the making of the alteration—

(a) would not constitute the making of a material alteration of the terms of the development concerned, it shall alter the planning permission, approval or other consent accordingly and notify the person who made the request under this section, and the planning authority or each planning authority for the area or areas concerned, of the alteration,

(b) would constitute the making of such a material alteration, it shall determine whether to—

(i) make the alteration,

(ii) make an alteration of the terms of the development concerned, being an alteration that would be different from that to which the request relates (but which would not, in the opinion of the Board, represent, overall, a more significant change to the terms of the development than that which would be represented by the latter alteration), or

(iii) refuse to make the alteration.

(4) Before making a determination under subsection (3)(b), the Board shall determine whether the extent and character of—

(a) the alteration requested under subsection (1), and

(b) any alternative alteration it is considering under subsection (3)(b)(ii),

are such that the alteration, were it to be made, would be likely to have significant effects on the environment (and, for this purpose, the Board shall have reached a final decision as to what is the extent and character of any alternative alteration the making of which it is so considering).

(5) If the Board determines that the making of either kind of alteration referred to in subsection (3)(b)—

(a) is not likely to have significant effects on the environment, it shall proceed to make a determination under subsection (3)(b), or

(b) is likely to have such effects, the provisions of section 146C shall apply.

(6) If, in a case to which subsection (5)(a) applies, the Board makes a determination to make an alteration of either kind referred to in subsection (3)(b), it shall alter the planning permission, approval or other consent accordingly and notify the person who made the request under this section, and the planning authority or each planning authority for the area or areas concerned, of the alteration.

(7) In making a determination under subsection (4), the Board shall have regard to the criteria for the purposes of determining which classes of development are likely to have significant effects on the environment set out in any regulations made under section 176.

(8) (a) Before making a determination under subsection (3)(b) or (4), the Board shall—

(i) make, or require the person who made the request concerned under subsection (1) to make, such information relating to that request available for inspection for such period,

(ii) notify, or require that person to notify, such person, such class of person or the public (as the Board considers appropriate) that the information is so available, and

(iii) invite, or require that person to invite, submissions or observations (from any foregoing person or, as appropriate, members of the public) to be made to it in relation to that request within such period,

as the Board determines and, in the case of a requirement under any of the preceding subparagraphs, specifies in the requirement; such a requirement may specify the means by which the thing to which it relates is to be done.

(b) The Board shall have regard to any submissions or observations made to it in accordance with an invitation referred to in paragraph (a).

(c) The Board shall notify any person who made a submission or observation to it in accordance with that invitation of its determination under subsection (3)(b) or (4).

(9) In this section ‘term’ has the same meaning as it has in section 146A.

Preparation of environmental impact statement for purposes of section 146B.

146C.— (1) This section applies to a case where the determination of the Board under section 146B(4) is that the making of either kind of alteration referred to in section 146B(3)(b) is likely to have significant effects on the environment.

(2) In a case to which this section applies, the Board shall require the person who made the request under section 146B (‘the requester’) to prepare an environmental impact statement in relation to the proposed alteration of the terms of the development concerned and, in this subsection and the following subsections of this section, ‘ proposed alteration of the terms of the development concerned ’ means—

(a) the alteration referred to in subsection (3)(b)(i), and

(b) any alternative alteration under subsection (3)(b)(ii) the making of which the Board is considering (and particulars of any such alternative alteration the making of which is being so considered shall be furnished, for the purposes of this subsection, by the Board to the requester).

(3) An environmental impact statement under this section shall contain—

(a) any information that any regulations made under section 177 require to be contained in environmental impact statements generally under this Act, and

(b) any other information prescribed in any regulations made under section 177 to the extent that—

(i) such information is relevant to—

(I) the given stage of the consent procedure and to the specific characteristics of the development or type of development concerned, and

(II) the environmental features likely to be affected,

and

(ii) the person or persons preparing the statement may reasonably be required to compile it having regard to current knowledge and methods of assessment,

and

(c) a summary, in non-technical language, of the information referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(4) When an environmental impact statement under this section is prepared, the requester shall as soon as may be—

(a) submit a copy of the statement to the Board, together with either—

(i) a copy of the published notice referred to in paragraph (c), or

(ii) a copy of the notice proposed to be published in accordance with paragraph (c) together with details of its proposed publication and date,

(b) publish a notice, in the prescribed form, in one or more newspapers circulating in the area in which the development concerned is proposed to be, or is being, carried out—

(i) stating that an environmental impact statement has been submitted to the Board in relation to the proposed alteration of the terms of the development concerned,

(ii) indicating the times at which, the period (which shall not be less than 4 weeks) during which and the place or places where a copy of the environmental impact statement may be inspected,

(iii) stating that a copy of the environmental impact statement may be purchased on payment of a specified fee (which fee shall not exceed the reasonable cost of making such copy), and

(iv) stating that submissions or observations may be made in writing to the Board before a specified date (which date shall not be less than 4 weeks after the notice was first published) in relation to the likely effects on the environment of the proposed alteration of the foregoing terms,

(c) send a copy of the environmental impact statement together with a notice in the prescribed form to the local authority or each local authority in whose functional area the proposed development would be situate and to any prescribed body or person stating that—

(i) the statement has been submitted to the Board in relation to the proposed alteration of the terms of the development concerned,

(ii) before a specified date (which date shall be the same as provided or proposed to be provided for by the notice under paragraph (b)) submissions or observations may be made in writing to the Board in relation to the likely effects on the environment of the proposed alteration of the foregoing terms,

(d) send a copy of the environmental impact statement, together with a notice in the prescribed form, to a Member State of the European Communities or a state which is a party to the Transboundary Convention where, in the Board’s opinion, the proposed alteration of the terms of the development concerned is likely to have significant effects on the environment in that state, together with a notice (in the prescribed form, if any) stating that—

(i) the statement has been submitted to the Board in relation to the likely effects on the environment of the proposed alteration of the foregoing terms,

(ii) before a specified date (which date shall be the same as provided or proposed to be provided for by the notice under paragraph (b)) submissions or observations may be made in writing to the Board in relation to the likely effects on the environment in that state of the proposed alteration of those terms,

and the Board may, at its discretion and from time to time, extend any time limits provided for by this subsection.

(5) On the preceding subsections having been complied with, the Board shall, subject to subsections (6) and (7), proceed to make a determination under section 146B(3)(b) in relation to the matter.

(6) In making that determination, the Board shall, to the extent that they appear to the Board to be relevant, have regard to the following:

(a) the environmental impact statement submitted pursuant to subsection (4)(a), any submissions or observations made in response to the invitation referred to in subsection (4)(b) or (c) before the date specified in the notice concerned for that purpose and any other relevant information before it relating to the likely effects on the environment of the proposed alteration of the terms of the development concerned;

(b) where such alteration is likely to have significant effects on the environment in another Member State of the European Communities, or a state which is a party to the Transboundary Convention, the views of such Member State or party;

(c) the development plan or plans for the area in which the development concerned is proposed to be, or is being, carried out (referred to subsequently in this subsection as ‘the area’);

(d) the provisions of any special amenity area order relating to the area;

(e) if the area or part of the area is a European site or an area prescribed for the purposes of section 10(2)(c), that fact;

(f) if the development concerned (were it to be carried out in the terms as they are proposed to be altered) would have an effect on a European site or an area prescribed for the purposes of section 10(2)(c), that fact;

(g) the matters referred to in section 143;

(h) any social or economic benefit that would accrue to the State, a region of the State or the area were the development concerned to be carried out in the terms as they are proposed to be altered;

(i) commitments entered into and the stage at which the development concerned has progressed under the permission, approval or other consent in the terms as originally granted; and

(j) any relevant provisions of this Act and of any regulations made under this Act.

(7) The Board shall not make a determination under section 146B(3)(b) in a case to which this section applies at any time prior to the date specified, pursuant to subparagraph (iv) of subsection (4)(b), in the notice under subsection (4)(b).

(8) Where the Board makes a determination under section 146B(3)(b) in a case to which this section applies—

(a) it shall give public notice of the determination (including notice in the area in which the development concerned is proposed to be, or is being, carried out) and inform any state to which an environmental impact statement has been sent under subsection (4)(d) of the determination, including, if the determination is of the kind referred to in paragraph (b), particulars of the determination, and

(b) if the determination is a determination to make an alteration of either kind referred to in section 146B(3)(b), it shall alter the planning permission, approval or other consent accordingly and notify the requester of the alteration.

(9) Without prejudice to the generality of section 18(a) of the Interpretation Act 2005 , a reference, however expressed, in this section to the area in which the proposed development would be situated includes, if the context admits, a reference to the 2 or more areas in which the proposed development would be situated and cognate references shall be construed accordingly.

Application of sections 146A to 146C to railway orders.

146D.— Sections 146A to 146C shall apply to a railway order under the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 (whether made before or after the amendment of that Act by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006) as they apply to a permission, decision or approval referred to in them with the following modifications:

(a) a reference in those sections to the terms of the development shall be construed as a reference to the terms of the railway works, the subject of the railway order;

(b) a reference in those sections to altering the terms of the development shall be construed as a reference to amending, by order, the railway order with respect to the terms of the railway works, the subject of the railway order; and

(c) a reference in section 146A to submissions or observations made to the Board in relation to the permission or other matter concerned shall be construed as a reference to submissions made to the Minister for Transport or the Board, as the case may be, under the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 in relation to the railway order.”.

31 .— Section 156 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsection (1), by inserting “135(7),” after “63,”, and

(b) by adding the following subsection after subsection (8):

“(9) Where a person is convicted, on indictment, of an offence under section 135(7), the court may, where it finds that the act or omission constituting the offence delayed the conduct of the oral hearing concerned referred to in section 135(7), order—

(a) the person convicted, or

(b) any body with whose consent, connivance or approval the court is satisfied the offence was committed,

to pay to the Board or to any party or person who appeared at the oral hearing such an amount as is equal to the amount of any additional costs that it is shown to the court to have been incurred by the Board, party or person in appearing or being represented at the oral hearing by reason of the commission of the offence.”.

32 .— Section 173 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following subsection for subsection (2):

“(2) (a) If an applicant or a person intending to apply for permission so requests, the planning authority concerned shall give a written opinion on the information to be contained in an environmental impact statement, subject to—

(i) consultation with the Board, and

(ii) any prescribed consultations,

to be carried out by the planning authority in relation to such an opinion, and the written opinion shall be given before the submission by that person of an application for the grant of planning permission.

(b) The giving of a written opinion in accordance with paragraph (a) shall not prejudice the exercise by the planning authority concerned or the Board of its powers under this Act, or any regulations made thereunder, to require the person who made the request to submit further information regarding the application concerned or, as the case may be, any appeal.

(c) The Minister may, by regulations, provide for additional, incidental, consequential or supplementary matters as regards procedures in respect of the provision of a written opinion under paragraph (a).”.

33 .— Section 174 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsection (1)(a), by substituting “, or the Board in dealing with any application or appeal,” for “, or the Board on appeal,”,

(b) in subsection (2), by substituting “sections 34(3), 37G(2), 146C(6), 173(1), 181B(1), 182B(1) and 182D(1)” for “sections 173(1) and 34(3)”, and

(c) in subsection (3), by substituting “grant of permission or approval” for “grant of permission”.

34 .— Section 175 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by substituting the following subsection for subsection (5):

“(5) (a) The Board may—

(i) if it considers it necessary to do so, require a local authority that has applied for approval for a proposed development to furnish to the Board such further information in relation to—

(I) the effects on the environment of the proposed development, or

(II) the consequences for proper planning and sustainable development in the area in which it is proposed to situate the said development of such development,

as the Board may specify, or

(ii) if it is provisionally of the view that it would be appropriate to approve the proposed development were certain alterations (specified in the notification referred to in this subparagraph) to be made to the terms of it, notify the local authority that it is of that view and invite the authority to make to the terms of the proposed development alterations specified in the notification and, if the authority makes those alterations, to furnish to it such information (if any) as it may specify in relation to the development, in the terms as so altered, or, where necessary, a revised environmental impact statement in respect of it.

(b) If a local authority makes the alterations to the terms of the proposed development specified in a notification given to it under paragraph (a), the terms of the development as so altered shall be deemed to be the proposed development for the purposes of this section.

(c) The Board shall—

(i) where it considers that any further information received pursuant to a requirement made under paragraph (a)(i) contains significant additional data relating to—

(I) the likely effects on the environment of the proposed development, and

(II) the likely consequences for the proper planning and sustainable development in the area in which it is proposed to situate the said development of such development,

or

(ii) where the local authority has made the alterations to the terms of the proposed development specified in a notification given to it under paragraph (a)(ii),

require the local authority to do the things referred to in paragraph (d).

(d) The things which a local authority shall be required to do as aforesaid are—

(i) to publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the area in which the proposed development would be situate a notice stating that, as appropriate—

(I) further information in relation to the proposed development has been furnished to the Board, or

(II) the local authority has, pursuant to an invitation of the Board, made alterations to the terms of the proposed development (and the nature of those alterations shall be indicated) and, if it be the case, that information in relation to the terms of the development as so altered or a revised environmental impact statement in respect of the development has been furnished to the Board,

indicating the times at which, the period (which shall not be less than 3 weeks) during which and the place, or places, where a copy of the information or the environmental impact statement referred to in clause (I) or (II) may be inspected free of charge or purchased and that submissions or observations in relation to that information or statement may be made to the Board before the expiration of the indicated period, and

(ii) to send to each prescribed authority to which notice was given pursuant to subsection (4)(b)—

(I) a notice of the furnishing to the Board of, as appropriate, the further information referred to in subparagraph (i)(I) or the information or statement referred to in subparagraph (i)(II), and

(II) a copy of that further information, information or statement,

and to indicate to the authority that submissions or observations in relation to that further information, information or statement may be made to the Board before the expiration of a period (which shall not be less than 3 weeks) beginning on the day on which the notice is sent to the prescribed authority by the local authority.”,

(b) in subsection (6)(a), by substituting “the environmental impact statement submitted pursuant to subsection (1) or (5)(a)(ii), any submission or observations made in accordance with subsection (4) or (5)” for “the environmental impact statement submitted pursuant to subsection (1), any submissions or observations made in accordance with subsection (4)”, and

(c) by substituting the following subsections for subsection (9):

“(9) (a) The Board may, in respect of an application for approval under this section of proposed development—

(i) approve the proposed development,

(ii) make such modifications to the proposed development as it specifies in the approval and approve the proposed development as so modified,

(iii) approve, in part only, the proposed development (with or without specified modifications of it of the foregoing kind), or

(iv) refuse to approve the proposed development,

and may attach to an approval under subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) such conditions as it considers appropriate.

(b) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power to attach conditions, the Board may attach to an approval under paragraph (a)(i), (ii) or (iii) a condition requiring—

(i) the construction or the financing, in whole or in part, of the construction of a facility, or

(ii) the provision or the financing, in whole or in part, of the provision of a service,

in the area in which the proposed development would be situated, being a facility or service that, in the opinion of the Board, would constitute a substantial gain to the community.

(c) A condition attached pursuant to paragraph (b) shall not require such an amount of financial resources to be committed for the purposes of the condition being complied with as would substantially deprive the person in whose favour the approval operates of the benefits likely to accrue from the grant of the approval.

(9A) (a) The Board shall direct the payment of such sum as it considers reasonable by the local authority concerned to the Board towards the costs and expenses incurred by the Board in determining an application under this section for approval of a proposed development, including—

(i) the costs of holding any oral hearing in relation to the application,

(ii) the fees of any consultants or advisers engaged in the matter, and

(iii) an amount equal to such portion of the remuneration and any allowances for expenses paid to the members and employees of the Board as the Board determines to be attributable to the performance of duties by the members and employees in relation to the application,

and the local authority shall pay the sum.

(b) If a local authority fails to pay a sum directed to be paid under paragraph (a), the Board may recover the sum from the authority as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.”.

35 .— Section 181(1) of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in paragraph (a), by inserting “and sections 181A to 181C” after “except for this section”, and

(b) in paragraph (b), by deleting subparagraph (iv).

36 .— The following sections are inserted after section 181 of the Principal Act:

“Approval of certain State development requiring environmental impact assessment.

181A.— (1) Subject to section 181B(4), where a State authority proposes to carry out or have carried out development—

(a) of a class specified in regulations made under section 181(1)(a), and

(b) identified as likely to have significant effects on the environment in accordance with section 176,

(hereafter referred to in this section and sections 181B and 181C as ‘proposed development’), the authority shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, an application for approval of the development under section 181B and an environmental impact statement in respect of the development and shall apply to the Board for such approval accordingly.

(2) Subject to section 181B(4), the proposed development shall not be carried out unless the Board has approved it with or without modifications.

(3) Before a State authority makes an application for approval under subsection (1), it shall—

(a) publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the area or areas in which it is proposed to carry out the development a notice indicating the nature and location of the proposed development and—

(i) stating that—

(I) it proposes to seek the approval of the Board for the proposed development,

(II) an environmental impact statement has been prepared in respect of the proposed development,

(III) where relevant, the proposed development is likely to have significant effects on the environment in another Member State of the European Communities or other party to the Transboundary Convention,

(ii) specifying the times and places at which, and the period (not being less than 6 weeks) during which, a copy of the application and the environmental impact statement may be inspected free of charge or purchased on payment of a specified fee (which fee shall not exceed the reasonable cost of making such copy),

(iii) inviting the making, during such period, of submissions and observations to the Board relating to—

(I) the implications of the proposed development for proper planning and sustainable development in the area or areas concerned, and

(II) the likely effects on the environment of the proposed development,

if carried out, and

(iv) specifying the types of decision the Board may make, under section 181B, in relation to the application,

(b) send a copy of the application and the environmental impact statement to the local authority or each local authority in whose functional area the proposed development would be situate and to any prescribed bodies, together with a notice stating that submissions or observations may, during the period referred to in paragraph (a)(ii), be made in writing to the Board in relation to—

(i) the implications of the proposed development for proper planning and sustainable development in the area concerned, and

(ii) the likely effects on the environment of the proposed development,

if carried out, and

(c) where the proposed development is likely to have significant effects on the environment of a Member State of the European Communities or a state which is a party to the Transboundary Convention, send a prescribed number of copies of the application and the environmental impact statement to the prescribed authority of the relevant state or states together with a notice stating that submissions or observations may, during the period referred to in paragraph (a)(ii), be made in writing to the Board.

(4) The Board may—

(a) if it considers it necessary to do so, require a State authority that has applied for approval for a proposed development to furnish to the Board such further information in relation to the effects on proper planning and sustainable development or the environment of the proposed development as the Board may specify, or

(b) if it is provisionally of the view that it would be appropriate to approve the proposed development were certain alterations (specified in the notification referred to in this paragraph) to be made to the terms of it, notify the State authority that it is of that view and invite the State authority to make to the terms of the proposed development alterations specified in the notification and, if the State authority makes those alterations, to furnish to it such information (if any) as it may specify in relation to the development, in the terms as so altered, or, where necessary, a revised environmental impact statement in respect of it.

(5) If a State authority makes the alterations to the terms of the proposed development specified in a notification given to it under subsection (4), the terms of the development as so altered shall be deemed to be the proposed development for the purposes of this section and section 181B.

(6) The Board shall—

(a) where it considers that any further information received pursuant to a requirement made under subsection (4)(a) contains significant additional data relating to—

(i) the likely effects on the environment of the proposed development, and

(ii) the likely consequences for proper planning and sustainable development in the area or areas in which it is proposed to situate the said development of such development,

or

(b) where the State authority has made the alterations to the terms of the proposed development specified in a notification given to it under subsection (4)(b),

require the State authority to do the things referred to in subsection (7).

(7) The things which a State authority shall be required to do as aforesaid are—

(a) to publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the area or areas in which the proposed development would be situate a notice stating that, as appropriate—

(i) further information in relation to the proposed development has been furnished to the Board, or

(ii) the State authority has, pursuant to an invitation of the Board, made alterations to the terms of the proposed development (and the nature of those alterations shall be indicated) and, if it be the case, that information in relation to the terms of the development as so altered or a revised environmental impact statement in respect of the development has been furnished to the Board,

indicating the times at which, the period (which shall not be less than 3 weeks) during which and the place, or places, where a copy of the information or the environmental impact statement referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii) may be inspected free of charge or purchased on payment of a specified fee (which fee shall not exceed the reasonable cost of making such copy) and that submissions or observations in relation to that information or statement may be made to the Board before the expiration of the indicated period, and

(b) to send to each prescribed authority to which a notice was given pursuant to subsection (3)(b) or (c)—

(i) a notice of the furnishing to the Board of, as appropriate, the further information referred to in paragraph (a)(i) or the information or statement referred to in paragraph (a)(ii), and

(ii) a copy of that further information, information or statement,

and to indicate to the authority that submissions or observations in relation to that further information, information or statement may be made to the Board before the expiration of a period (which shall be not less than 3 weeks) beginning on the day on which the notice is sent to the prescribed authority by the State authority.

Section 181A: criteria for decision, certain exemptions, etc.

181B.— (1) Before making a decision in respect of a proposed development the subject of an application under section 181A, the Board shall consider—

(a) the environmental impact statement submitted pursuant to section 181A(1) or (4), any submissions or observations made in accordance with section 181A(3) or (7) and any other information furnished in accordance with section 181A(4) relating to—

(i) the likely consequences for proper planning and sustainable development in the area in which it is proposed to situate the proposed development of such development, and

(ii) the likely effects on the environment of the proposed development,

and

(b) the report and any recommendations of a person conducting any oral hearing relating to the proposed development.

(2) The Board may, where it is satisfied that exceptional circumstances so warrant, grant an exemption in respect of proposed development from a requirement under section 181A(1) to prepare an environmental impact statement except that no exemption may be granted in respect of proposed development where another Member State of the European Communities or a state which is a party to the Transboundary Convention has indicated that it wishes to furnish views on the effects on the environment in that Member State or state of the proposed development.

(3) The Board shall, in granting an exemption under subsection (2), consider whether—

(a) the effects, if any, of the proposed development on the environment should be assessed in some other manner, and

(b) the information arising from such an assessment should be made available to the members of the public,

and it may apply such requirements regarding these matters in relation to the application for approval as it considers necessary or appropriate.

(4) The Minister for Defence may, in the case of proposed development in connection with, or for the purposes of, national defence, grant an exemption in respect of the development from a requirement under section 181A(1) to apply for approval and prepare an environmental impact statement if he or she is satisfied that the application of section 181A or 181C would have adverse effects on those purposes.

(5) Notice of any exemption granted under subsection (2) or (4), of the reasons for granting the exemption and, where appropriate, of any requirements applied under subsection (3) shall, as soon as may be—

(a) be published in Iris Oifigiúil and in at least one daily newspaper published in the State, and

(b) be given, together with a copy of the information, if any, made available to the members of the public in accordance with subsection (3), to the Commission of the European Communities.

(6) The Board may, in respect of an application under section 181A for approval of proposed development—

(a) approve the proposed development,

(b) make such modifications to the proposed development as it specifies in the approval and approve the proposed development as so modified,

(c) approve, in part only, the proposed development (with or without specified modifications of it of the foregoing kind), or

(d) refuse to approve the proposed development,

and may attach to an approval under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) such conditions as it considers appropriate.

(7) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power to attach conditions, the Board may attach to an approval under subsection (6)(a), (b) or (c) a condition requiring—

(a) the construction or the financing, in whole or in part, of the construction of a facility, or

(b) the provision or the financing, in whole or in part, of the provision of a service,

in the area in which the proposed development would be situated, being a facility or service that, in the opinion of the Board, would constitute a substantial gain to the community.

(8) A condition attached pursuant to subsection (7) shall not require such an amount of financial resources to be committed for the purposes of the condition being complied with as would substantially deprive the person in whose favour the approval under this section operates of the benefits likely to accrue from the grant of the approval.

(9) The Minister may make regulations to provide for such matters of procedure and administration as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient in respect of consultations under section 181C or applications for approval under section 181A.

(10) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (9), regulations under that subsection may make provision for requiring the Board to give information in respect of its decision regarding the proposed development for which approval is sought.

(11) In considering under subsection (1) information furnished relating to the likely consequences for proper planning and sustainable development of a proposed development in the area in which it is proposed to situate such development, or on the environment, the Board shall have regard to—

(a) the provisions of the development plan for the area,

(b) the provisions of any special amenity area order relating to the area,

(c) if the area or part of the area is a European site or an area prescribed for the purposes of section 10(2)(c), that fact,

(d) if the proposed development would have an effect on a European site or an area prescribed for the purposes of section 10(2)(c), that fact,

(e) where relevant, the matters referred to in section 143, and

(f) the provisions of this Act and regulations under this Act where relevant.

(12) Regulations made under section 181(1)(b) shall not apply to any development which is approved under this section.

(13) Nothing in this section or section 181A or 181C shall require the disclosure by a State authority or the Board of details of the internal arrangements of a development which might prejudice the internal or external security of the development or facilitate any unauthorised entrance to, or exit from, the development of any person when it is completed.

(14) Without prejudice to the generality of section 18(a) of the Interpretation Act 2005 , a reference, however expressed, in this section to the area in which the proposed development would be situated includes, if the context admits, a reference to the 2 or more areas in which the proposed development would be situated and cognate references shall be construed accordingly.

Procedures in advance of seeking approval under section 181B.

181C.— (1) A State authority (a ‘prospective applicant’) which proposes to apply for approval under section 181B shall, before making the application, enter into consultations with the Board in relation to the proposed development.

(2) In any consultations under subsection (1), the Board may give advice to the prospective applicant regarding the proposed application and, in particular, regarding—

(a) the procedures involved in making the application, and

(b) what considerations, related to proper planning and sustainable development or the environment, may, in the opinion of the Board, have a bearing on its decision in relation to the application.

(3) A prospective applicant may request the Board—

(a) to make a determination of whether a development of a class specified in regulations made under section 181(1)(a) which it proposes to carry out or have carried out is likely to have significant effects on the environment in accordance with section 176 (and inform the applicant of the determination), or

(b) to give to the applicant an opinion in writing prepared by the Board on what information will be required to be contained in an environmental impact statement in relation to the proposed development.

(4) On receipt of such a request, the Board shall comply with it as soon as is practicable.

(5) A prospective applicant shall, for the purposes of—

(a) consultations under subsection (1), and

(b) the Board’s complying with a request under subsection (3),

supply to the Board sufficient information in relation to the proposed development so as to enable the Board to assess the proposed development.

(6) Neither—

(a) the holding of consultations under subsection (1), nor

(b) the provision of an opinion under subsection (3),

shall prejudice the performance by the Board of any other of its functions under this Act or regulations under this Act, or any other enactment and cannot be relied upon in the formal planning process or in legal proceedings.

(7) The Board shall keep a record in writing of any consultations under this section in relation to a proposed development, including the names of those who participated in the consultations, and a copy of such record shall be placed and kept with the documents to which any application in respect of the proposed development relates.”.

37 .— The following sections are inserted after section 215 of the Principal Act:

“Transfer of certain Ministerial functions under Gas Act 1976 to Board.

215A.— (1) The functions of—

(a) the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources,

(b) any other Minister of the Government, or

(c) the Commission for Energy Regulation,

under sections 31 and 32 of, and the Second Schedule to, the Gas Act 1976 , as amended, in relation to the compulsory acquisition of land in respect of a strategic gas infrastructure development are transferred to, and vested in, the Board, and relevant references in that Act to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, any other Minister of the Government or the Commission for Energy Regulation shall be construed as references to the Board and any connected references shall be construed accordingly.

(2) The transfer of the functions of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, any other Minister of the Government or the Commission for Energy Regulation to the Board in relation to the compulsory acquisition of land in accordance with subsection (1) shall include the transfer of all necessary ancillary powers in relation to deviation limits, substrata of land, easements, rights over land (including wayleaves and public rights of way), rights of access to land, the revocation or modification of planning permissions or other such functions as may be necessary in order to ensure that the Board can fully carry out its functions in relation to the enactments referred to in subsection (1).

(3) Article 5 of the Second Schedule to the Gas Act 1976 shall not apply in respect of the function of compulsory acquisition transferred to the Board under subsection (1).

Transfer of certain Ministerial functions under Air Navigation Act 1998.

215B.— (1) The functions of the Minister for Transport under section 17 of, and the Second Schedule to, the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act 1998 , as amended, in relation to the compulsory acquisition of land for the purposes set out in section 18 of that Act, are transferred to, and vested in, the Board, and relevant references in that Act to the Minister for Transport shall be construed as references to the Board and any connected references shall be construed accordingly.

(2) The transfer of the functions of the Minister for Transport in relation to the compulsory acquisition of land in accordance with subsection (1) shall include the transfer of all necessary ancillary powers in relation to substrata of land, easements, rights over land (including wayleaves and public rights of way), rights over land or water or other such functions as may be necessary in order to ensure that the Board can fully carry out its functions in relation to the enactments referred to in subsection (1).”.

38 .— The following sections are inserted after section 217 of the Principal Act:

“Transferred functions under this Part: supplemental provisions.

217A.— (1) The Board may, in respect of any of the functions transferred under this Part concerning the confirming or otherwise of any compulsory acquisition, at its absolute discretion and at any time before making a decision in respect of the matter—

(a) request submissions or observations from any person who may, in the opinion of the Board, have information which is relevant to its decision concerning the confirming or otherwise of such compulsory acquisition (and may have regard to any submission or observation so made in the making of its decision), or

(b) hold meetings with the local authority, or in the case of section 215A the person who applied for the acquisition order, or any other person where it appears to the Board to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of—

(i) making a decision concerning the confirming or otherwise of such compulsory acquisition, or

(ii) resolving any issue with the local authority or the applicant, as may be appropriate, or any disagreement between the authority or the applicant, as may be appropriate, and any other person, including resolving any issue or disagreement in advance of an oral hearing.

(2) Where the Board holds a meeting in accordance with subsection (1)(b), it shall keep a written record of the meeting and make that record available for inspection.

(3) The Board, or an employee of the Board duly authorised by the Board, may appoint any person to hold a meeting referred to in subsection (1)(b).

Section 215: supplemental provisions.

217B.— (1) The Board may, at its absolute discretion and at any time before making a decision on a scheme or proposed road development referred to in section 215—

(a) request further submissions or observations from any person who made submissions or observations in relation to the scheme or proposed road development, or any other person who may, in the opinion of the Board, have information which is relevant to its decision on the scheme or proposed road development, or

(b) hold meetings with the road authority or any other person where it appears to the Board to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of—

(i) making a decision on the scheme or proposed road development, or

(ii) resolving any issue with the road authority or any disagreement between the authority and any other person, including resolving any issue or disagreement in advance of an oral hearing.

(2) Where the Board holds a meeting in accordance with subsection (1)(b), it shall keep a written record of the meeting and make that record available for inspection.

(3) The Board, or an employee of the Board duly authorised by the Board, may appoint any person to hold a meeting referred to in subsection (1)(b).

(4) The Board may—

(a) if it considers it necessary to do so, require a road authority that has submitted a scheme under section 49 of the Roads Act 1993 or made an application for approval under section 51 of that Act to furnish to the Board such further information in relation to—

(i) the effects on the environment of the proposed scheme or road development, or

(ii) the consequences for proper planning and sustainable development in the area or areas in which it is proposed to situate the said scheme or road development of such scheme or road development,

as the Board may specify, or

(b) if it is provisionally of the view that it would be appropriate to approve the scheme or proposed road development were certain alterations (specified in the notification referred to in this paragraph) to be made to the terms of it, notify the road authority that it is of that view and invite the authority to make to the terms of the scheme or proposed road development alterations specified in the notification and, if the authority makes those alterations, to furnish to it such information (if any) as it may specify in relation to the scheme or road development, in the terms as so altered, or, where necessary, a revised environmental impact statement in respect of it.

(5) If a road authority makes the alterations to the terms of the scheme or proposed road development specified in a notification given to it under subsection (4), the terms of the scheme or road development as so altered shall be deemed to be the scheme or proposed road development for the purposes of sections 49, 50 and 51 of the Roads Act 1993 .

(6) The Board shall—

(a) where it considers that any further information received pursuant to a requirement made under subsection (4)(a) contains significant additional data relating to—

(i) the likely effects on the environment of the scheme or proposed road development, and

(ii) the likely consequences for proper planning and sustainable development in the area or areas in which it is proposed to situate the said scheme or road development of such scheme or road development,

or

(b) where the road authority has made the alterations to the terms of the proposed development specified in a notification given to it under subsection (4)(b),

require the authority to do the things referred to in subsection (7).

(7) The things which a road authority shall be required to do as aforesaid are—

(a) to publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the area or areas in which the development to which the scheme relates or, as the case may be, the proposed road development would be situate a notice stating that, as appropriate—

(i) further information in relation to the scheme or proposed road development has been furnished to the Board, or

(ii) the road authority has, pursuant to an invitation of the Board, made alterations to the terms of the scheme or proposed road development (and the nature of those alterations shall be indicated) and, if it be the case, that information in relation to the terms of the scheme or road development as so altered or a revised environmental impact statement in respect of the scheme or development has been furnished to the Board,

indicating the times at which, the period (which shall not be less than 3 weeks) during which and the place, or places, where a copy of the information or the environmental impact statement referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii) may be inspected free of charge or purchased on payment of a specified fee (which fee shall not exceed the reasonable cost of making such copy) and that submissions or observations in relation to that information or statement may be made to the Board before the expiration of the indicated period, and

(b) to send to each body or prescribed authority to which a notice was given pursuant to section 51(3)(b) or (c) of the Roads Act 1993 —

(i) a notice of the furnishing to the Board of, as appropriate, the further information referred to in paragraph (a)(i) or the information or statement referred to in paragraph (a)(ii), and

(ii) a copy of that further information, information or statement,

and to indicate to the body or authority that submissions or observations in relation to that further information, information or statement may be made to the Board before the expiration of a period (which shall be not less than 3 weeks) beginning on the day on which the notice is sent to the prescribed authority by the road authority.

(8) The Board shall, in making its decision in respect of a scheme or proposed road development, have regard to any information submitted on foot of a notice under subsection (4), including any revised environmental impact statement or any submissions or observations made on foot of a request under subsection (1) or a notice under subsection (7).

Board’s powers to make decisions on transferred functions.

217C.— (1) Notwithstanding any provision of any of the enactments referred to in section 214, 215A or 215B concerning the confirming or otherwise of any compulsory acquisition, the Board shall, in relation to any of the functions transferred under this Part respecting those matters, have the power to confirm a compulsory acquisition or any part thereof, with or without conditions or modifications, or to annul an acquisition or any part thereof.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of the Roads Act 1993 concerning the approval of any scheme or proposed road development, the Board shall, in relation to any of the functions transferred under this Part respecting those matters, have the power to approve the scheme or development or any part thereof, with or without conditions or modifications, or to refuse to approve the scheme or development or any part thereof.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power to attach conditions, the Board may attach to any approval of a scheme or proposed road development under the Roads Act 1993 a condition requiring—

(a) the construction or the financing, in whole or in part, of the construction of a facility, or

(b) the provision or the financing, in whole or in part, of the provision of a service,

in the area in which the proposed development would be situated, being a facility or service that, in the opinion of the Board, would constitute a substantial gain to the community.

(4) A condition attached pursuant to subsection (3) shall not require such an amount of financial resources to be committed for the purposes of the condition being complied with as would substantially deprive the person in whose favour the approval operates of the benefits likely to accrue from the grant of the approval.”.

39 .— Section 218 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by substituting the following subsection for subsection (1):

“(1) Where, as a result of the transfer of functions under section 214, 215, 215A or 215B, the Board would otherwise be required to hold a local inquiry, public local inquiry or oral hearing, that requirement shall not apply to the Board but the Board may, at its absolute discretion, hold an oral hearing in relation to the matter, the subject of the function transferred.”,

and

(b) in subsection (4), by substituting “sections 214 to 215B” for “sections 214 and 215”.

40 .— The following section is substituted for section 219 of the Principal Act:

“Power to direct payment of certain costs.

219.— (1) Where the Board has made a decision in the performance of any functions transferred under section 214, 215, 215A or 215B, it may at its absolute discretion direct the payment of such sum as it considers reasonable by the local authority concerned or, in the case of section 215A or 215B, the person who applied for the acquisition order (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘applicant’)—

(a) to the Board towards the costs and expenses incurred by the Board in determining the matter, including—

(i) the costs of holding any oral hearing in relation to the matter,

(ii) the fees of any consultants or advisers engaged in the matter, and

(iii) an amount equal to such portion of the remuneration and any allowances for expenses paid to the members and employees of the Board as the Board determines to be attributable to the performance of duties by the members and employees in relation to the matter,

and

(b) to any person appearing at an oral hearing held in relation to the matter as a contribution towards the costs, other than the costs referred to in section 135, incurred by that person of appearing at that hearing,

and the local authority or applicant, as appropriate, shall pay the sum.

(2) The reference in subsection (1)(b) to costs shall be construed as a reference to such costs as the Board in its absolute discretion considers to be reasonable costs.

(3) If a local authority or applicant, as appropriate, fails to pay a sum directed to be paid under subsection (1), the Board or any other person concerned, as the case may be, may recover the sum from the authority or applicant, as appropriate, as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.”.

41 .— Section 221 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsections (1) and (7), by substituting “section 214, 215, 215A or 215B” for “sections 214 and 215”, and

(b) in subsections (2) and (5), by substituting “section 214, 215, 215A or 215B” for “section 214 or 215”.

42 .— Section 223 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsection (1), by substituting “section 214, 215, 215A or 215B to the Minister, any other Minister of the Government or the Commission for Energy Regulation” for “section 214 or 215 to the Minister”, and

(b) in subsection (2), by substituting “section 214, 215, 215A or 215B” for “section 214 or 215”.

43 .— Section 226 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by substituting the following subsection for subsection (2):

“(2) (a) The Board may approve, approve subject to conditions, or refuse to approve a proposed development.

(b) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), the Board may attach to an approval under this section conditions for or in connection with the protection of the marine environment (including the protection of fisheries) or, if the subject of a recommendation by the Minister for Transport to the Board with regard to the exercise of the power under this subsection in the particular case (which recommendation that Minister of the Government may, by virtue of this subsection, make), the safety of navigation.”,

(b) by substituting the following subsections for subsection (6):

“(6) (a) In the following case:

(i) the local authority concerned, if it is of the opinion that the development concerned would be likely to have significant effects on the environment, shall refer; or

(ii) the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources may refer;

to the Board for its determination the question of whether the following development would be likely to have significant effects on the environment.

(b) That case is one of development that is identified for the purposes of section 176 (other than development falling within a class of development identified for the purposes of that section) and which is proposed to be carried out wholly or partly on the foreshore—

(i) by a local authority that is a planning authority, whether in its capacity as a planning authority or otherwise, or

(ii) by some other person on behalf of, or jointly or in partnership with a local authority that is a planning authority, pursuant to an agreement entered into by that authority, whether in its capacity as a planning authority or otherwise.

(c) Where required by the Board, the local authority or the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources shall provide to the Board such information as may be specified by the Board in respect of the effects on the environment of the proposed development, the subject of the question referred to it under this subsection.

(7) (a) The Board shall consider and determine the question referred to it under subsection (6) and, where it determines that the development concerned would be likely to have significant effects on the environment, it shall—

(i) notify the local authority concerned (and, where the question has been referred by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, that Minister of the Government) that it has determined that the development would be likely to have those effects, and

(ii) specify, in that notification, that any application by the local authority concerned for approval under subsection (1) in respect of the development shall be accompanied by an environmental impact statement prepared or caused to be prepared by the authority in respect of the development,

and, where that notification so specifies, any such application shall be accompanied by such a statement accordingly.

(b) In making that determination, the Board shall have regard to the criteria for the purposes of determining which classes of development are likely to have significant effects on the environment set out in any regulations made under section 176.

(c) Notwithstanding any other enactment, the determination of the Board of a question referred to it under subsection (6) shall be final.

(8) The Minister may make regulations to provide for such matters of procedure and administration as appear to the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, to be necessary or expedient in respect of referring a question under subsection (6) or of making a determination under subsection (7).

(9) This section shall apply to proposed development—

(a) that, if carried out wholly within the functional area of a local authority that is a planning authority, would be subject to the provisions of section 175,

(b) that a local authority has been notified under paragraph (a)(i) of subsection (7) is one which the Board has determined under that subsection would be likely to have significant effects on the environment, or

(c) that is prescribed for the purposes of this section.”.

44 .— Section 227 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsection (5), by substituting “Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Minister for Transport” for “Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources”,

(b) by substituting the following subsection for subsection (8):

“(8) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), the Foreshore Acts 1933 to 2005 shall not apply in relation to any application to the Board under section 226, or matters to which subsection (5)(b) applies or a scheme submitted under section 49 of the Roads Act 1993 .

(b) In any case where a local authority that is a planning authority applies for an approval for proposed development under section 226 or has been granted such an approval by the Board, but has not sought the compulsory acquisition of any foreshore on which the proposed development would be carried out under an enactment specified in section 214, the authority may apply for a lease or licence under section 2 or 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 in respect of that proposed development; in such cases, it shall not, notwithstanding the provisions of any other enactment, be necessary for—

(i) the local authority to submit an environmental impact statement in connection with its application for such lease or licence, or

(ii) the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to consider the likely effects on the environment of the proposed development.”,

and

(c) by deleting subsection (9).

45 .— Section 228 of the Principal Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

“(5) No licence shall be required under the Foreshore Act 1933 in respect of any such entry or any site investigations carried out in accordance with this section.”.

46 .— Section 265(3) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting “under Part XII” for “under this Act”.

47 .— Part XIX of the Principal Act is amended by inserting the following section after section 270:

“Exempted developments not affected.

270A.— For the avoidance of doubt, any category of exempted development by virtue of section 4 or regulations thereunder is not affected by the amendments of this Act made by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006.”.