Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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150. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding any proposed amendments to public rights of way under the current draft of the planning and development Bill; how they differ from the existing rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15810/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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There are no substantive changes to provisions in the draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 pertaining to public rights of way compared to the provisions in the current Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

The draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 was published in January and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has undertaken a significant pre-legislative scrutiny process on it, over the past two months. I expect to receive their report shortly and will fully consider its recommendations, along with submissions on the Bill received from stakeholders, when preparing the final Bill. The final Bill, when published, will be accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum provide information on the provisions in the Bill and will highlight the rationale for any substantial changes made to the current Act. It is intended that the Bill will then commence in the Houses of the Oireachtas with the intention that it will be enacted by this summer, subject to the Oireachtas schedule.