Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
438. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current timelines being met by An Coimisiún Pleanála for the assessment of planning appeals and planning applications made to An Coimisiún Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71034/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Coimisiún Pleanála (An Coimisiún) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2024, as amended, and certain other Acts.
The Planning and Development Act 2024, includes a number of new provisions relating to An Coimisiún Pleanála, as part of a significant restructure. The Act will introduce statutory time periods for decision making for all consent processes, including, for the first time, for An Coimisiún Pleanála. This will bring increased certainty to the planning consent processes, for both the public and stakeholders involved in the delivery of key infrastructure such as housing and renewable energy.
For An Coimisiún processes, timelines are being introduced for appeals as well as the various consents applications made directly to them.
It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstances, such as complexity, requests for further information from applicants for permission or further submissions from other participants including third parties, will not meet the 18 week target.
The latest figures received by my Department from An Coimisiún Pleanála shows that 59% of all cases were disposed of within the 18 week target. Performance against this target continues to improve, as 77% of all cases disposed in October 2025 were within the target. 100% of large scale residential appeals have been disposed within the target in 2025. An Coimisiún's processes have continued to improve throughout the year, in preparation for the introduction of statutory timelines for planning decisions as part of the Planning and Development Act 2024.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Coimisiún Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie
