Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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89. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the terms of reference of the committee appointed to carry out the root and branch review of the planning system proposed in the programme for Government; the details of the membership of the committee and their qualifications to carry out this task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3541/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The detailed arrangements in relation to the undertaking of an overall review of the planning system, as proposed in the Programme for a Partnership Government and aimed at reducing the uncertainty and length of planning processes, have not yet been finalised. However, the Deputy may wish to note that, in advance of such a review being undertaken, considerable progress has already been made in a number of areas identified by Government as forming part of such a review.

In this connection, the Programme for a Partnership Government indicated that a review of the resources and structures required by An Bord Pleanála to meet its statutory objective of deciding appeals within 18 weeks was one aspect of the planning system that would be specifically addressed. This is now being progressed in the context of the implementation of the recommendations of the Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála, undertaken by an independent expert panel, which was published in March 2016. An Implementation Group, comprising representation from my Department and An Bord Pleanála, has been established to oversee the implementation of the Review Group recommendations with a view to ensuring that the Board is appropriately positioned and fit for purpose from an organisational perspective to achieve its legislative mandate in this regard.

Furthermore, in order to ensure that the planning system remains accessible and responsive to projected increased construction activity as the economy recovers, the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland, which was published in July 2016, proposed a review of the forecasting, planning and delivery of residential development as another strand in the overall review of the planning system. In this connection, the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 provides for the introduction of temporary fast- track planning arrangements, whereby planning applications for large-scale housing developments (100+ units), including student accommodation, can be made directly to An Bord Pleanála and determined within a specified time frame, with a view to facilitating the earlier provision of increased housing supply. Work is now progressing on the preparation of the regulations and guidance necessary to bring the new procedures into operation at an early date.

Rebuilding Ireland also referred, in the context of an overall review of the planning system, to the introduction and integration of technological efficiencies such as e-planning ( i.e. online submission of planning applications and appeals) to facilitate a more modern and responsive planning system. The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016, which recently passed Second Stage in the Dáil and which it is intended will be enacted by the Summer, includes enabling provision to facilitate the introduction of e-planning.