Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2025
218. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the commencement schedule for each section of the Planning and Development Act 2024 relating to An Coimisiún Pleanála, including the expected dates for the introduction of statutory time periods, the new appeals processes, and the implementation of the section 588 declaration requirements. [70400/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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]. It should be noted that the existing provisions in the Planning and Development Act 2000 will remain in place until repealed and the relevant provisions in the Act of 2024 are commenced.
An overview of the provision of the Act of 2024 that have been commenced to date is available at [www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/planning-and-development-act-2024/] . It is anticipated that the following provisions will be commenced before the end of this year:
• Chapter 5 (Development Plans) and 6 (Urban Area Plans, Priority Area Plans and Coordinated Area Plans) of Part 3;
• Chapter 1 of Part 7 (Housing Strategies)
• Part 18 (Office of the Planning Regulator);
An Coimisiún Pleanála (the Commission) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and certain direct applications, such as for strategic infrastructure development. The Act of 2024 introduces a range of measures to streamline the planning process including a number of new provisions relating to An Coimisiún Pleanála, as part of a significant restructure. In this context, Part 17 of the Act of 2024 was commenced 18 June 2025 and provides for the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála (to replace An Bord Pleanála). This includes a revised organisational structure overseen by a new Governing Board and a Chief Executive Officer role. It should be noted that Part 17 concerns organisational restructuring only. All decision-making functions of the Commission and associated responsibilities, including appeals, permissions, consents and approvals, continue under the Planning and Development Act 2000 until such time as Part 4 (Development Consents) of the Act of 2024 is commenced.
Sections 102 to 113 and Chapter 2 of Part 12 of the Act of 2024 sets out the procedures governing an appeal to the Commission of a decision of the planning authority on a standard planning application, and consolidates various provisions of the Act of 2000.
Sections 113 and 126 of the Act of 2024 will introduce statutory time periods for decision making for both planning appeals and applications made direct to the Commission, respectively, for the first time. The headline time periods for the Commission will range from 18 weeks for appeals of decisions of planning authorities to 48 weeks for larger-scale strategic infrastructure developments.
The Act of 2024 will introduce new procedures to address 'spurious' planning submissions, appeals and judicial reviews. Section 588 of the Act of 2024 provides that submissions made in relation to planning applications, the making of a planning appeal and the taking of a judicial reviews must be accompanied by a declaration stating that the submission, planning appeal or judicial review is not being made or taken for the purposes of delaying a development or for receiving a payment or other benefit. A declaration must also be made when withdrawing a submission, appeal or a judicial review. A person who fails to comply with these declaration requirements or knowingly makes a false or misleading declaration will be liable, on summary conviction, to a class A fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
It should be noted that the operation of sections 113, 126 and 588 of the Act of 2024 are dependent upon the commencement of Part 4 of that Act, and it is for this reason that I intend to bring these provisions into operation simultaneously. During 2026, the commencement of Part 4 (Development Consent) and remaining provisions will be actioned as a priority.
