Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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48. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a review of planning laws is being carried out; and if so, the terms of reference for the review. [59628/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Housing for All 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. The review forms one of the actions in Housing for All and is set in the context of the broad policy outlined therein.  

The review is being overseen by the Attorney General and he has appointed a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assist him in this work.  It is intended that the review will be completed by December 2022. 

My Department is currently establishing a Planning Advisory Forum which will be a key element of the planning review.  It will manage the stakeholder engagement through the process and will be chaired by me. 

The primary aim of the Forum will be to engage with stakeholders on themes to input into the review.  The Forum will have a wide stakeholder membership to input to the evolving policy and legal agenda, with representatives from a broad range of sectors, including representation from the public sector, business, environmental, social and knowledge based sectors. My Department is presently seeking nominations to the Forum from relevant groups and interested bodies. 

The first meeting of the Planning Advisory Forum will take place shortly and it is my intention that the terms of reference for the Forum will be published once they have been considered at this this meeting.