Written answers

Wednesday, 24 November 2021

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Planning Issues

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

74. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the implementation of each of the 101 recommendations of the 2016 Report Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála in tabular form. [57726/21]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála was undertaken by an independent expert panel and published in March 2016. An Implementation Group, comprising representation from the Department and An Bord Pleanála, was established to oversee the implementation of the Review recommendations.

The Review contains 101 recommendations relating to legislative provisions, communications and stakeholder engagement, the Board's role and governance along with organisational and operational matters.

The Implementation Group published its Terms of Reference and Plan for Implementation in 2016. An Bord Pleanála, supported by the Department, as required, took the lead in the implementation of a large number of the key recommendations, with the Department taking the lead in examining recommendations requiring legislative underpinning.

“Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland” sets out a number of objectives with the aim of improving the functioning of the planning system including the comprehensive review and consolidation of planning legislation. This review is being led by the Attorney General and he has established a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assist him in this work. The review is due to be finalised by September 2022 to allow updated legislation to be enacted by December 2022. As such, recommendations of the Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála requiring legislative underpinning will be considered in the context of the ongoing review of planning legislation.

As requested, an update on the implementation status of each of the 101 recommendations contained in the report is attached in tabular form.

Status of the recommendations of the 2016 Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála

Status Explanation
Complete Recommendation addressed, no further action necessary
Ongoing Recommendation in train or yet to be decided upon
TBD To be determined in a review of legislation

The Government has an extensive planning legislative agenda, which currently includes a number of planning and development bills, and the opportunity to take on board any legislative changes suggested in the Review is being considered in that context. The updating of legislation and guidelines remains an ongoing process and as specific matters arise, clarifications are issued to Planning Authorities via Circulars.

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

75. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of properties (details supplied) that have applied to each local authority for planning permission in 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of these planning applications that have been granted by each local authority in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57794/21]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The information requested in relation to the number of change of use planning applications made to, and granted/refused by, planning authorities further to the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 - referred to as the Short-Term Letting Regulations - which came into effect on 1 July 2019 is outlined in the table below:

Planning Authority No. of STL change of use planning applications received No. of STL change of use planning permission granted No. of STL change of use planning applications refused
Carlow 0 0 0
Cork County 21 10 3
Cork City 4 1 3
DLR 0 0 0
Dublin City 20 3 10
Fingal 0 0 0
Galway City 5 0 2
Galway County 0 0 0
Kerry 0 0 0
Kildare 0 0 0
Kilkenny 5 1 1
Laois 5 2 0
Limerick 3 0 3
Louth 0 1 0
Meath 0 0 0
Offaly 0 0 0
Sligo 3 2 1
South Dublin 0 0 0
Waterford 2 1 0
Westmeath 0 0 0
Wexford 3 0 3
Wicklow 5 2 1
Total 76 23 27

In making a decision on any planning application, a planning authority must consider matters of proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to –

- the provisions of the relevant development plan,

- relevant Ministerial or Government policies and guidelines,

- the views of statutory consultees, and

- the views of members of the public.

The planning authority should also consider a number of factors when deciding on these change of use applications including, but not limited to:

- the overarching Government Housing Policy to retain/return residential properties to the long term housing market;

- making the most efficient use of existing residential housing stock;

- whether the property is situated in an area experiencing high rent inflation;

- whether there is a sufficient supply of rental properties available for longer-term rental in the area to meet local need;

- general housing demand and need in the area, including the extent of the local authority’s social housing list – (HAP or RAS tenancies);

- proliferation of short-term letting properties with planning permission in the area and the wider cumulative impacts of new applications received;

- residential amenity considerations such as noise and disturbance to neighbours;

- the nature and character of the location – for example town/rural or primarily residential/ commercial: and

- The concentration of short term letting properties in apartment developments.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.