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Ministers Fitzgerald & Coffey propose new powers for City & County Councils to regulate the planning of new licensed premises
- Local Authorities to be allowed to include policies in their City & County Development Plans
- Provisions included in new Planning & Development (Amendment) Bill
- Move follows concerns about proliferation of new off-licences in certain urban areas
The Minister for Justice & Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, and the Minister of State for Planning, Paudie Coffey TD, have today announced proposal to give new powers to City & County Councils to regulate planning of new licensed premises such as pubs, off-licences and nightclubs.
The Ministers have agreed a proposal to explicitly allow City & County Councils to include objectives in their Development Plans relating to “regulating, restricting or controlling the development of licensed premises.” The making of a Development Plan is a reserved function for elected councillors.
The proposal was drafted by the Department of Justice & Equality and has been included in the Head and General Scheme of the new Planning & Development Amendment Bill published by the Department of Environment, Communities and Local Government.
Minister Fitzgerald stated: “Pubs, off-licences and nightclubs are a normal feature of any town or city in Ireland. However, in some towns and cities we are seeing an unsustainable proliferation of off-licenses along single streets or in historic or tourist areas. This is leading to concerns about the attractiveness and commercial vitality of these areas as well as prompting fears regarding drinking in public places and public order.
“I think it is only right that local councils should have a role in regulating the proliferation of new licensed premises through the Development Plan process.”
Minister of State Coffey stated: “I have worked closely with my colleague Minister Fitzgerald to deliver this in the heads of the planning and development bill. This proposed change will provide for greater alignment between the planning and licensing systems and will give communities, through their councillors, a say in local policies on provisions of new licensed premises.”
The Heads and General Scheme of the Planning & Development (Amendment) Bill are available here: bit.ly/1Rdi326