Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
593. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the cumulative impact of judicial reviews on the delivery of major housing or infrastructure projects; and if reforms are being considered to reduce systemic delay while preserving the right to appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63582/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra624. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing projects delayed due to environmental assessments, Natura requirements, or related approvals; and the steps being taken to ensure timely completion of these assessments while meeting statutory obligations. [63890/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra679. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing projects delayed due to climate-related regulatory requirements, including flood-risk assessments and environmental impact processes; and the actions planned to reduce these delays. [63957/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra681. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projected cost of climate-adaptation measures required to protect new housing developments in urban areas, including Cork city and surrounding flood-prone zones; and how these costs were factored into the strategy's delivery projections. [63959/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 593, 624, 679 and 681 together.
The Planning and Development Act 2024 represents the largest update to Irish planning legislation in a quarter century. The new Act, which was underpinned by a detailed review and advice of the Office of the Attorney General as well as extensive engagement with stakeholders and other relevant Government Departments, contains key reforms aimed at improving confidence, clarity and consistency within the planning system. These changes, once fully implemented across the planning system will in turn enhance delivery of key infrastructure, such as housing and renewable energy, whilst maintaining Ireland's commitment and compliance to European and international obligations relating to climate and access to justice.
The new Act contains considerable and impactful reforms to planning judicial review, addressing particular matters such as time limits for commencing proceedings, legal standing to take such proceedings and various procedural rules relating to such proceedings as well as facilitating the introduction of a scale of costs, which will reduce the high costs associated with judicial review for all parties.
Statutory timelines for all consenting processes, including for the first time for An Coimisiún Pleanála will bring increased certainty to planning consent processes, with headline time periods for An Coimisiún Pleanála ranging from 18 weeks for appeals of decisions of planning authorities on smaller-scale development proposals, to 48 weeks for larger-scale Strategic Infrastructure Developments. A new Ministerial Action Plan on Resources for Planning is well underway, working to ensure An Coimisiún Pleanála and all planning authorities are appropriately equipped to meet these new statutory requirements.
New provisions in the Act, such as Government approved National Planning Statements, which will in time replace current s.28 Ministerial Guidelines, will ensure greater consistency across all tiers of planning whilst requirements for environmental assessment have been made clearer for all consenting processes.
It is of course entirely appropriate that planning authorities, when considering applications for housing and infrastructure development, take due account of environmental considerations such as flood risks and Natura and equivalent requirements.
With regards to specific projects in Cork or elsewhere, under Section 30 of the Act of 2000 the Minister shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Commission is or may be concerned. Consideration of individual planning cases is a matter for the relevant planning authority and is a matter in which the Minister has no Statutory function. Responsibility for climate adaptation is the responsibility of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment.
