John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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70. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he intends to review the various section 28 guidelines referenced in recent judgements (details supplied) in particular the sustainable residential development in urban areas 2009, design standards for new apartments 2018 and Urban Development and Building Height Guidelines 2018, to provide greater clarity and to remove ambiguity and discrepancies in respect of recommended densities and the extent to which public transport services serving the sites of a proposed developments must demonstrate existing capacity, frequency and good links to other modes of public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18493/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Project Ireland 2040 comprises the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the National Development Plan (NDP). One of the key outcomes of both of the NPF and NDP is the compact growth of cities and towns of all sizes, in order to meet sustainability goals and to create more attractive places in which people can live and work. The preferred approach is to focus on greater reuse of previously developed brownfield land and infill sites and the development of sites in locations that are better serviced by existing facilities and public transport. The NPF indicates that there is a need for increased densities in urban areas, while also acknowledging the need for a proportionate and tailored approach, especially in the context of regional cities and towns.

This means that it is necessary to adapt the scale, design and layout of new development according to the type of settlement in which it is located, and its proximity to centres and public transport services. Statutory ‘Section 28’ ministerial guidelines for planning authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (the ‘Sustainable Residential Development Guidelines’) were last issued in 2009, having been first introduced in 1999. Further related guidance has been subsequently issued in the form of updates to the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, most recently in 2020, and the Urban Development and Building Heights Guidelines for Planning Authorities in 2018.

While the principles, approaches and general requirements of the Sustainable Residential Development Guidelines continue to be applicable to the objectives of the NPF for the development of compact, sustainable and liveable settlements, it is timely that the guidance is updated to respond to the greater range of settlements types defined by the NPF. It is not proposed to review the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2020) and the Urban Development and Building Heights Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2018) at this time; however some elements of those particular guidelines will be reflected in the updated Sustainable Residential Development Guidelines due to their interrelated nature.

My Department is currently undertaking a practical and targeted review to update the Sustainable Residential Development Guidelines with new Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidelines (SCSG). A preliminary draft of the new SCSGs is being prepared for the purposes of screening for Appropriate Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment. Following the completion of the AA/SEA processes, the Draft SCSGs will be placed on display for a focused period of public consultation. It is envisaged that this will happen in mid-2022. Submissions made during the public consultation period will be reviewed and where appropriate and necessary, amendments will be made to the published Draft. Thereafter, the draft guidelines will be submitted to the Minister for approval and the final Guidelines will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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71. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the 40 new recruits approved by him for An Bord Pleanála; when he expects them to be in situ; the expected reduction in planning delays anticipated arising from the recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18494/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In October 2021, my Department approved the 2021-2022 An Bord Pleanála (the Board) Workforce Plan which provides for an additional 24 posts across a range of technical and administrative grades including the setting up of a new Marine and Climate Unit to implement the role assigned to the Board under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 and associated projects under the Climate Action Plan 2021. Sanction has since been granted by my Department in respect of 16 of these additional posts, and I understand that to date the Board has filled 10 of these sanctioned positions with recruitment for the remaining 6 posts currently underway. On 29th March 2021 the Board sought sanction to fill 5 of the remaining 8 posts, and this request is currently being processed by my Department.

Following an updated assessment by the Board of resourcing issues likely to emerge as a result of planning applications for the National Development Plan and other infrastructure projects as well as legislative changes, a new workforce plan for 2022-2023 requesting 40 additional posts was submitted to my Department by the Board on 1st April 2022 and is currently under consideration. I understand that a separate resource plan for projects associated with the Maritime Area Planning Act, 2021 is expected from the Board in the coming weeks.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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72. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the data that his Department holds on the estimated number of outstanding planning permissions for new houses or apartments which have been granted in each local authority area; the way in which these compare to the projected housing need for the respective local authority areas; and the way in which this data is factored into the development of the activities of the Land Development Agency and the targets which his Department is negotiating with local authorities. [18517/22]