Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1317. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress made to date in discussions with the EU Commission on the "Flemish Decree"; his plans to hold a public consultation on this matter before issuing a new planning circular to the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25082/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Following engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, a working group, comprising senior representatives from my Department and planning authorities, was established in May 2017 to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, with a view to ensuring that rural housing policies and objectives contained in local authority development plans comply with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

This Working Group concluded its deliberations in September 2017 and taking account of the Group's analysis and recommended outcome, my Department has been engaging with the Commission on the matter, with a view to issuing a further circular letter to planning authorities as soon as possible, setting out revisions to the 2005 Guidelines that take account of the relevant ECJ judgment. I have no plans to conduct a public consultation prior to the issuing of the circular.