Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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320. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the consolidation of planning legislation planned for the last quarter of 2022 is to occur, taking into account the loophole that allows change of use for student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53380/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The review and consolidation of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) is progressing in line with the timeline set out by the Office of the Attorney General, who is leading on the project. The Attorney General has established a working group of planning law experts to assist him with the review and there is ongoing, intensive engagement between the working group and my Department.

The Review is a key commitment in the Government’s Housing for All plan, with the aim of improving the functioning of the planning system. All aspects of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) will be examined in the context of the review, including those pertaining to Student Accommodation.

In the meantime the Department issued Circular 05/2021 - Temporary Change of Use of Student Accommodationon 24 September 2021 which resolves the issue raised by the Deputy. This Circular states that when considering planning applications for the change of use of existing student accommodation for a temporary period, planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála must be satisfied that there are compelling non-Covid related grounds to grant permission for any such proposed change of use, while demand for student accommodation remains high.

The full circular can be viewed at the following link: gov.ie/ga/ciorclan/cbd9f-circular-nrup-052021-temporary-change-of-use-of-student-accommodation/