Written answers

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Provision

Photo of Alan FarrellAlan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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308. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of housing developments currently subject to judicial review; the number of housing units this encompasses by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6163/22]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The recording of court cases is one in which I have no statutory function and is a matter for the Courts Service which is statutorily independent. Judicial reviews against the State, in which my Department may be included as a party, are co-ordinated by the Chief State Solicitors Office under the guidance of the Attorney General's Office.

Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

Local Authorities may be subject to judicial review on a range of their functions and therefore it is a matter for each local authority and their respective legal teams to record. Such information may be sought directly from the relevant local authority.

An Bord Pleanála can be challenged by judicial review on a range of its functions, including decisions on planning applications in respect of strategic housing developments, and it publishes an update on legal cases in its Annual Report. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.

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