Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
56. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his views on the recently announced draft National Planning Statement to Transform Approach to Rural Housing-Delivering Greater Clarity and Consistency. [53135/26]
View answerI welcome the publication of the Draft Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing National Planning Statement by my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Housing is fundamental to the viability of our rural towns and villages and to the sustainability of rural communities across Ireland.
The publication of this draft Planning Statement recognises this by seeking to bring greater clarity and consistency to rural housing policy and providing a clear decision-making framework for planning authorities, applicants and local communities. This will in effect deliver clear and practical improvements for people in rural communities across the country in line with the policy objectives of Our Rural Future.
In addition, the publication of the Planning Statement is also an important development for our Gaeltacht communities. Importantly, we now have a clear and specific approach which will deliver practical benefits for our Gaeltacht areas.
I look forward to the finalisation and adoption of the Planning Statement so that we can begin to see the benefits that implementation can bring for rural communities throughout the country.
