Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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370. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the rollout of a nationwide e-planning system. [38649/20]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The ePlanning project which is currently being developed seeks to integrate the IT systems of the 31 planning authorities using a single online portal allowing for the online submission of planning applications, appeals, submissions and associated fees. Once fully rolled out, ePlanning will provide an online option for the public to engage with the planning system, in addition to the paper based system.

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is managing and co-ordinating the development of the ePlanning project on behalf of the Department. The need for online technology in the planning system has been particularly highlighted during the measures introduced to mitigate against Covid 19 when travel restrictions prevented the public from travelling to view files in local authority planning offices and generally participating in the planning process. Arising from this, the ePlanning Project Board was requested by my Department to consider the accelerated the development and rollout of ePlanning nationwide with a view to bringing the system onstream as speedily as possible. The LGMA is currently preparing a schedule for the rollout of ePlanning nationwide to all local authorities on a phased basis, which is expected to commence in Q1 2021 and with a view to completion by Q2 2022.