Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Yes, early 2025. On the second question about local authority staffing, there are challenges in recruitment across the local government sector. Notwithstanding this, there has been an intake of additional planning staff across all local authorities. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, sanctioned that last year or the year before. The bigger issue for this legislation is as part of a broader reform agenda in the planning sector. Significant progress is being made in Government policy measures through the national planning framework, which is to conclude in April 2024. In addition, there is the publication of the draft sustainable compact settlement guidelines. From our perspective, it is essential the planning system is properly resourced to meet these challenges and the significant work burden on local authorities with workforce planning. That is an integral part of it.

A ministerial action plan is being prepared by the Department to support the broader approach of the requirement to ensure our entire planning system, right down to the local government level, is able to cope, manage and deal with the additional requirements that will be placed on it.