Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
163. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the modular housing guidelines; when publication is expected; and whether local authorities will receive direction on their implementation. [5044/26]
View answerSignificant progress on the review of exempted development has been made. A successful public consultation was undertaken last summer. There was significant engagement with the public and relevant stakeholders on exempted development regulations, with over 900 submissions received via an online consultation portal.
These submissions have been reviewed over the autumn and will inform the new draft Exempted Development Regulations, which will be implemented on a phased basis, by theme, with the exemptions relating to domestic dwellings being prioritised and forthcoming in the coming months.
When completed, the new draft Exempted Development regulations are subject to Environmental consideration, before being laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. This will also necessitate engagement with the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
It is intended that new Regulations under the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) will be signed into law in tandem with the commencement of Part 2 and Part 4 of the Act of 2024 and the updated exempted development provisions will form part of the new Regulations.
In the meantime, the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000), and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (Regulations of 2001) remain in force until the relevant sections of the Act of 2024 are commenced and the corresponding sections of the Act of 2000 are repealed.
