Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 2nd June, 2017.

The Government, pursuant to a proposal by the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government following consultation by that Minister with Mayo County Council, being of the opinion that the development specified in Article 3 is of economic and social importance to the State, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (No. 30 of 2000) (as adapted by the Environment, Community and Local Government (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2016 ( S.I. No. 394 of 2016 )), hereby order as follows:

1. (1) This Order may be cited as the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Designation of Strategic Development Zone: Ireland West Airport Knock) Order 2017.

(2) This Order comes into operation on 31 May 2017.

2. In this Order—

“Act of 2000” means the Planning and Development Act 2000 (No. 30 of 2000)

“first local authority” means the local authority in whose local authority area the strategic development zone is situated.

3. The area shown as the “designated area” on the map entitled “Proposed Strategic Development Zone at Ireland West Airport Knock” dated May 2017 set out in the Schedule to this Order is designated as a site for the establishment of a strategic development zone in accordance with Part IX of the Act of 2000 for developments which may include—

(a) commercial activities including the development of infrastructure to support aviation including air cargo logistics facilities, aircraft hangars, maintenance and repair facilities, and airline and flight services,

(b) the provision of hotel and conference facilities,

(c) the development of any commercial or employment activity that, in the opinion of the first local authority having regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of its local authority area, requires to be located within the strategic development zone and cannot be reasonably accommodated at any other location in either the local authority area of the first local authority situated outside of the strategic development zone or the local authority area of any of the other local authorities in the Northern and Western Regional Assembly Area, and

(d) the provision of supporting transport infrastructure.

4. The site referred to in Article 3 has been designated for the establishment of a strategic development zone for the development specified in that Article, taking into consideration—

(a) the National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020 which identifies the need to support and improve connectivity including air transport links,

(b) the Regional Planning Guidelines for the West Region 2010-2020, which support the ongoing development of Ireland West Airport Knock both as a transport hub and as a driver for supporting economic development,

and

(c) wider Government policy to support economic development.

5. The development agency specified for the purposes of section 168 of the Act of 2000 is Mayo County Council.

Schedule

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Government,

30 May 2017.

ENDA KENNY,

Taoiseach.