Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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119. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the new draft rural planning guidelines; when it is expected that the public consultation will commence; the reason for the delay in the publication of the draft guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3531/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Updated Rural Housing Planning Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework (NPF), in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 19 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other. NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social (intrinsic part of the community) or economic (persons working full or part time) need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.

The proposed Draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 19 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.

Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably our obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment and our climate have become more central to the operation of the planning system. The draft guidelines need to address all of these complex environmental issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.

The guidelines are at an advanced stage of drafting and environmental assessments relating to the impact of the proposed guidelines on the environment are nearing completion.

The draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation in Q1 2023.