Planning Issues

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Questions (336)

James Geoghegan

Question:

336. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his plans to introduce secondary legislation to implement scale of fees, capping the costs of environmental planning judicial reviews as per part 9 of the Planning and Development Act 2024; if these regulations have been prepared in draft form; the level and degree of consultation with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage as required under the relevant provision of the Act and the form that consultation took; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74482/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment

A proposal to give effect to a scale of fees is provided for in Section 294 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 and is currently subject to a public consultation. The consultation ends on 15 January 2026.

The objective of the proposal is to bring greater predictability and proportionality to the State's legal costs in environmental judicial reviews. It is not to limit access to justice or constrain the right of individuals or communities to challenge decisions.

The proposal was prepared by a consultant instructed by and reporting to an Interdepartmental Committee. The Committee was chaired by my Department and its membership included, inter alia, officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and the Office of the Attorney General. The proposal was approved by Government in December 2025, and it is now subject to public consultation.

Analysis of the submissions, legislative drafting and further consultation with the relevant Government Departments will commence as soon as consultation is closed.