Planning and Development Act 2024
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Performance of functions generally | ||
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547. (1) Subject to subsection (7) of section 538 , the Office may perform any of its functions through any member of the staff of the Office duly authorised— | ||
(a) by the Planning Regulator, or | ||
(b) to the extent provided for by the Planning Regulator under paragraph (a), by a director of the Office. | ||
(2) In performing its functions, the Office shall take account of the objectives of contributing to proper planning and sustainable development, maritime spatial planning and the optimal functioning of planning under this Act. | ||
(3) The Office shall, in performing its functions, have regard to— | ||
(a) the policies and objectives for the time being of the Government (including National Planning Statements), 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, villages or other areas, whether urban or rural, | ||
(b) the necessity of climate change adaptation and mitigation and to achieve the national climate objective, | ||
(c) the public interest and any effect the performance of the Office’s functions may have on issues of strategic, economic or social importance to the State, | ||
(d) the National Planning Framework, the National Marine Planning Framework and any regional spatial and economic strategy for the time being in force, and | ||
(e) the requirements of relevant acts of the European Union, in particular, those relating to— | ||
(i) the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, | ||
(ii) the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, | ||
(iii) the Habitats Directive, | ||
(iv) the Birds Directive, and | ||
(v) the Water Framework Directive, | ||
in so far as those requirements relate to planning authorities by virtue of being designated as competent authorities for the purposes of those acts. | ||
(4) The Minister may prescribe any body established by or under statute to be a “public authority” for the purposes of this section. |