23. (1) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of Article 2 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 133 of 2019)—

(a) sections 31AQ and 31AR (inserted by section 4 of the Act of 2018) of the Act of 2000, and

(b) the specified amendment,

shall, in so far only as they apply in relation to a relevant instrument, be deemed never to have come into operation.

(2) Section 31A (as, by virtue of subsection (1), it is deemed to operate in relation to a relevant instrument) of the Act of 2000 is amended, in so far only as it applies in relation to a relevant instrument, by—

(a) the substitution, in subsection (3), of “6 weeks” for “4 weeks”,

(b) the substitution—

(i) in paragraph (a) of subsection (10), of “Minister” for “Office of the Planning Regulator”, and

(ii) in paragraph (b) of subsection (10), of “Office of the Planning Regulator” for “Minister”,

(c) in subsection (19), by the substitution of—

(i) “assembly” for “authority” in each place that it occurs,

(ii) “assemblies” for “authorities”, and

(iii) “assembly’s” for “authority’s”,

and

(d) the insertion of the following subsection:

“(21) The Minister may, at any time, request the Office of the Planning Regulator to—

(a) advise him or her in relation to any matter in connection with a regional spatial and economic strategy or any report under this section, or

(b) prepare, and submit to the Minister, a report in relation to any such matter,

and the Office of the Planning Regulator shall, within such period as the Minister shall specify, comply with that request.”,

and the said section 31A as so amended in relation to a relevant instrument is set out in the Table to this section.

(3) In this section—

“Act of 2000” means the Planning and Development Act 2000;

“Act of 2018” means the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018;

“relevant instrument” means—

(a) a notice in respect of which the functions under subsection (2) of section 24 of the Act of 2000 were performed (in whole or in part) by a regional assembly before 3 April 2019,

(b) a notice or draft regional spatial and economic strategy in respect of which the functions under subsection (4) of the said section 24 were performed (in whole or in part) by a regional assembly before that date, or

(c) any regional spatial and economic strategy made before that date;

“specified amendment” means the amendment of section 31A of the Act of 2000 specified in column (3) of Schedule 1 of the Act of 2018 opposite reference numbers 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43, 44 and 45 specified in column (1) of that Schedule.

TABLE

31A. (1) Where the Minister is of the opinion that—

(a) a regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be, in making the regional spatial and economic strategy has ignored, or has not taken sufficient account of submissions or observations made by the Minister to the regional assembly or assemblies under section 24 or 26,

(b) the regional spatial and economic strategy fails to provide a long-term strategic planning and economic framework for the development of the region or regions, as the case may be, in respect of which it is made, in accordance with the principles of proper planning and sustainable development and the economic policies and objectives of the Government,

(c) the regional spatial and economic strategy is not in compliance with the requirements of this Act, or

(d) if applicable, in relation to a regional assembly or assemblies whose regional area or part thereof is in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) that the guidelines are not consistent with the transport strategy of the National Transport Authority,

the Minister may, in accordance with this section, for stated reasons direct a regional assembly or assemblies, as the case may be, to take such specified measures as he or she may require in relation to that plan.

(2) Where the Minister issues a direction under this section the regional assembly or regional assemblies, as the case may be, notwithstanding anything contained in Chapter III of this Part, shall comply with that direction and the chief executive or members shall not exercise a power or perform a function conferred on them by this Act in a manner that contravenes the direction so issued.

(3) Before he or she issues a direction under this section, the Minister shall issue a notice in writing to a regional assembly or regional assemblies, as the case may be, no later than 6 weeks after the strategy or strategies are made.

(4) The notice referred to in subsection (3) shall, for stated reasons, inform the regional assembly or regional assemblies, as the case may be, of—

(a) the forming of the opinion referred to in subsection (1),

(b) the intention of the Minister to issue a direction (a draft of which shall be contained in the notice) to the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be, to take certain measures specified in the notice in order to ensure that the regional spatial and economic strategy is in compliance with the requirements of this Act and to provide a long-term strategic planning and economic framework for the development of the region, or regions, as the case may be, in accordance with the principles of proper planning and sustainable development and the economic policies and objectives of the Government,

(c) the part of the regional spatial and economic strategy that by virtue of the issuing of the notice shall be taken not to have come into effect, and

(d) if applicable, requiring the regional assembly or assemblies, as the case may be, to take measures specified in the notice to ensure that the plan is in compliance with the transport strategy of the National Transport Authority.

(5) The Minister shall furnish a copy of the notice referred to in subsection (3) to the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be, and the National Transport Authority.

(6) (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in Chapter III, or any matter prescribed thereunder, a regional spatial and economic strategy shall not have effect in accordance with that Chapter in relation to a matter contained in the strategy which is referred to in a notice under subsection (3).

(b) If a part of the strategy proposed to be replaced under section 26 contains a matter that corresponds to any matter contained in the strategy which is referred to in a notice under subsection (3), that part shall not, save where subsection (17) applies, cease to have effect in respect of that matter.

(7) No later than 2 weeks after receipt of the notice issued by the Minister under subsection (3), the director of the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be, shall publish notice of the draft direction in at least one newspaper circulating in the area of the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be, which shall state—

(a) the reasons for the draft direction,

(b) that a copy of the draft direction may be inspected at such place or places as are specified in the notice during such period as may be so stated (being a period of not more than 2 weeks), and

(c) that written submissions or observations in respect of the draft direction may be made to the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be, during such period and shall be taken into consideration by the Minister before he or she directs the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be, pursuant to this section.

(8) No later than 4 weeks after the expiry of the period referred to in subsection (7)(b), the director shall prepare a report on any submissions or observations received under subsection (7)(c) which shall be furnished to the Minister and the members of the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be.

(9) The report referred to in subsection (8) shall—

(a) summarise the views of any person who made submissions or observations to the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be,

(b) summarise the views of and recommendations (if any) made by the members of the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be,

(c) make recommendations in relation to the best manner in which to give effect to the draft direction.

(10) In relation to the notice issued by the Minister under subsection (3), the members of the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be—

(a) may make a submission to the Minister at any time up to the expiry of the period of time referred to in subsection (7)(b), and

(b) where so submitted, shall send a copy of it to the Office of the Planning Regulator.

(11) The Minister shall consider the report furnished under subsection (8) and any submissions made to him or her under subsection (10) and—

(a) where he or she believes that no material amendment to the draft direction is required, or that further investigation is not necessary in order to clarify any aspect of the report or submissions, he or she may decide, no later than 3 weeks after the date of receipt of the report under subsection (8), for stated reasons—

(i) to issue the direction referred to in subsection (4)(b) with or without minor amendments, or

(ii) not to issue the direction referred to in subsection (4)(b),

or

(b) where he or she believes that—

(i) a material amendment to the draft direction may be required, or

(ii) further investigation is necessary in order to clarify any aspect of the report furnished under subsection (8) or submissions made under subsection (10), or

(iii) it is necessary for any other reason,

he or she may, for stated reasons, appoint an inspector no later than 3 weeks after the date of receipt of the report under subsection (8).

(12) The inspector appointed under subsection (11)(b) shall be a person who, in the opinion of the Minister, has satisfactory experience and competence to perform the functions required of him or her pursuant to this section and shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions.

(13) The inspector appointed under subsection (11)(b) having regard to the stated reasons for his or her appointment—

(a) shall review the draft direction, the report furnished under subsection (8) and submissions made under subsection (10),

(b) shall consult with the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be,

(c) may consult with persons who made submissions under subsection (7)(c), and

(d) shall no later than 3 weeks after he or she was appointed, furnish a report containing recommendations to the Minister.

(14) Copies of the report of the inspector referred to in subsection (13)(d) shall be furnished as quickly as possible by the Minister to the regional assembly, or assemblies, as the case may be, and persons who made submissions under subsection (7)(c).

(15) The persons who have been furnished with the report of the inspector referred to in subsection (13)(d) may make a submission to the Minister in relation to any matter referred to in the report no later than 10 days after the receipt by them of the report.

(16) No later than 3 weeks (or as soon as may be during such period extending that 3 week period as the Minister may direct) after receipt of the report of the inspector referred to in subsection (13)(d), or any submissions made to him or her under subsection (15), the Minister, having considered the report, recommendations or submissions, as the case may be, shall decide for stated reasons—

(a) to issue the direction referred to in subsection (4)(b),

(b) not to issue the direction referred to in subsection (4)(b), or

(c) to issue the direction referred to in subsection (4)(b), which has been amended by the Minister to take account of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (i) or (ii) as the Minister considers appropriate:

(i) recommendations contained in the report of the inspector referred to in subsection (13)(d); or

(ii) any submissions made pursuant to subsection (15).

(17) The direction issued by the Minister under subsection (16) is deemed to have immediate effect and its terms are considered to be incorporated into the regional spatial and economic strategy, or, if appropriate, to constitute the strategy.

(18) The Minister shall cause a copy of a direction issued under subsection (16) to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(19) As soon as may be after a direction is issued to a regional assembly or assemblies, as the case may be, the assembly or assemblies shall make the direction so issued available for inspection by members of the public, during office hours of the assembly, at the offices of the assembly, and may also make the direction available by placing it on the assembly’s website or otherwise in electronic form.

(20) The Minister shall publish or cause to be published in such manner as he or she considers appropriate directions issued under subsection (16).

(21) The Minister may, at any time, request the Office of the Planning Regulator to—

(a) advise him or her in relation to any matter in connection with a regional spatial and economic strategy or any report under this section, or

(b) prepare, and submit to the Minister, a report in relation to any such matter,

and the Office of the Planning Regulator shall, within such period as the Minister shall specify, comply with that request.