Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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264. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which planning procedures can be expedited to facilitate the building of extra local authority houses with particular reference to the need to make a serious impact on the number on local authority waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8717/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 amended section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 relating to the arrangements for the approval by local authorities of their own development proposals, often referred to as the Part 8 process. This amendment required a supporting amendment to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, which was provided for in the Planning and Development (Strategic Housing Development) Regulations 2017.

Under the new arrangements, which came into operation with effect from 3 July 2017, the maximum timeframe for the determination of local authority-own development proposals is now 20 weeks from the date of issue of the proposals for public consultation by the Chief Executive, whereas previously there was no maximum timeframe.

These reforms provide greater certainty for local authorities around the decision timelines associated with such own-development proposals, including proposals for social housing projects and infrastructure servicing both public and private development.