20.— Section 28 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (1):

“(1A) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) and for the purposes of that subsection a planning authority in having regard to the guidelines issued by the Minister under that subsection, shall—

(a) consider the policies and objectives of the Minister contained in the guidelines when preparing and making the draft development plan and the development plan, and

(b) append a statement to the draft development plan and the development plan which shall include the information referred to in subsection (1B).

(1B) The statement which the planning authority shall append to the draft development plan and the development plan under subsection (1A) shall include information which demonstrates—

(a) how the planning authority has implemented the policies and objectives of the Minister contained in the guidelines when considering their application to the area or part of the area of the draft development plan and the development plan, or

(b) if applicable, that the planning authority has formed the opinion that it is not possible, because of the nature and characteristics of the area or part of the area of the development plan, to implement certain policies and objectives of the Minister contained in the guidelines when considering the application of those policies in the area or part of the area of the draft development plan or the development plan and shall give reasons for the forming of the opinion and why the policies and objectives of the Minister have not been so implemented.”.