Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Existing legislation provides for the extension of the duration of a planning permission, subject to certain criteria set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Specifically, section 42 enables the holder of a planning permission to apply to a planning authority for up to two extensions to the appropriate period of the permission, provided the combined duration of both extensions does not exceed five years. Further extensions are also currently permitted under section 7 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2021 in the context of delays and disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This provides for the extension of the appropriate period of up to two years or until 31 December 2023, whichever occurs first, subject to the planning authority being satisfied such an extension is appropriate.

In the draft planning reform Bill, it is proposed to retain the current five-year duration of planning permission. Updated rural housing planning guidelines are being prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and it is intended to publish these draft guidelines for the period of public consultation in the second quarter of this year, once the environment assessments have been completed.