Home > Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 64 - Planning issues [Head shops] [15930/10].

[Oireachtas] Dail Eireann debate. Written answer 64 - Planning issues [Head shops] [15930/10]. (22 Apr 2010)

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64. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the efforts of local councils to tackle the proliferation of head shops by way of their planning powers; his further views on whether the efforts being undertaken at local level further highlight the need for a comprehensive legislative response at national level; and if he has met with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the national drugs strategy to discuss same. 

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): My Department, is working with the other relevant Departments, including the Departments of Health and Children; Justice, Equality and Law Reform; and Enterprise, Trade and Employment to develop recommendations for Government on the best way forward in devising an overall Government response to the issue of so-called head shops.
 
My Department is considering, in consultation with planning authorities, whether the planning system could make a sufficiently effective contribution to the resolution of this issue, through, for example, a more restrictive use of the change of use provisions under planning legislation or the inclusion of appropriate policies in their development plans.
 
Vol. 707 No. 2  
Written Answers – Planning Issues
Thursday, 22 April 2010

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