Town and Country Planning Act, 1976 (Act No. 172).

This Act provides for town and country planning at various levels of administration.
The Act provides for the establishment of a National Physical Planning Council and of a State Planning Committee which shall promote, regulate, control and advise on, the use and development of all lands in the State. The Council may form time to time establish a regional planning committee.
The State Director shall make a development plan based on the review of existing developments in the State. A grant of permission for the development of land shall be required as specified in the text.
Local planning authorities may also make tree preservation orders for for prohibiting the felling of trees and securing the planting of tree or the replacement of trees by replanting.
The Act further provides for: the establishment of an Appeal Board; purchase notices and acquisition of land; powers of local planning authority to declare an area be a development area; etc.