Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide planning exemptions for farmers who are trying to develop their businesses in a sustainable way with regard to improving agri-tourism through farming diversification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5254/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission.

Articles 6, 7, 8 and 10 and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. 

Under the regulations, the development of a number of types of agricultural buildings and structures are already generally exempt from planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations.

Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development.

I have no proposals to further amend the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 in this regard at this point in time.