Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I accept the point he has raised and have addressed it previously with Deputy Ó Broin. In May 2023, the Department engaged with the Office of the Planning Regulator and the local authority sector through a steering group established to review the fees payable to planning authorities in respect of planning applications. The steering group met on several occasions throughout 2023, with the OPR co-ordinating research on behalf of the group. It is recognised that the current level of planning fees does not cover the operating costs of planning functions within local authorities as the fees have not been increased since 2001, so we are nearly 23 years without any adjustment. The final report of the group was submitted to the Minster in January. We hope the recommendations, which are under review, will be considered and that any decisions made will be implemented under regulations outside the current Bill.