Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
564. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will sign the planned secondary legislation to allow local authorities to have their County Development Plans to be extended for a short period beyond 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71676/25]
View answerMy Department is in the process of commencing the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) on a phased basis, to facilitate the transition to the new legislation across the planning system and taking into account the need to liaise with local authorities, planning bodies and other stakeholders. A detailed implementation plan is available at www.gov.ie/planning.
A priority is the full commencement of Part 3 – Plans, Policies and Related matters of the 2024 Planning and Development Act. Work on commencing all sections of the Part is well advanced and I intend that Part 3 will be fully commenced by year end. This includes new provisions with respect to Development Plans.
I am aware of the need to allow Local Authorities to be capable of extending their current Development Plans for a period of time to assist and facilitate the smooth transition to the new Planning and Development Act. In this regard, on 26 November 2025, I received Government approval to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to make further legislative amendments to planning legislation. One element of the General Scheme relates to provisions that will allow planning authorities to extend the development plans that are currently in force and ensuring that future full development plan reviews are carried out only under the Act of 2024. I intend to progress the drafting of this Bill as a matter of urgency.
