Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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230. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation to extend planning permission for developments that are approaching their planning expiry after a second extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29578/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that a planning authority may, on application and in certain circumstances, extend once only the duration of an existing planning permission for a maximum period of 5 years, subject, at the authority’s discretion, to compliance with certain conditions.

The Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness includes a commitment to give further consideration to amending section 42 of the 2000 Act to provide for a further extension of the duration of current permissions that have already benefitted from one extension of duration. Legislative amendments to give effect to this commitment are included in the General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016, which was approved by Government on 27 September 2016 for priority drafting.

The General Scheme of the Bill proposes to amend existing provisions to provide that a further extension of duration of permission may be granted by a planning authority where it is satisfied the development has not been completed, due to circumstances beyond the control of the developer. This provision shall be limited to housing developments of 20 or more units and where the application for a further extension is made prior to the expiry of the current extended permission. The additional period granted shall not exceed 5 years or extend beyond the end date of the Action Plan, viz. i.e. 31 December 2021.

This Bill is a priority for the Government and I intend to advance its publication and enactment as quickly as possible.