Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issues that the Deputy raises are really important when it comes to the Government and the country meeting the objective of balanced regional development. We want to see such balanced regional development. It is core to the Project Ireland 2040 strategy, where the majority of growth in the population of Ireland over the next 20 years, which is estimated to be growth of about 1 million people, will be outside Dublin. Ensuring that we are able to deliver infrastructure in a timely manner is central to that, including flood schemes and other vital public infrastructure. We want An Bord Pleanála to meet the statutory deadlines. I will raise the issue that the Deputy has raised with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. Updated rural housing guidelines are being prepared to ensure consistency with current requirements and legislation at national and EU level, subject to requirements for periods of public consultation and ensuring compliance with environmental legislation, which will inform the timeframe. The guidelines will be prepared in draft during this quarter of the current year. In the next month to six weeks, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, expects to be in a position to bring those forward.

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