Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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431. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on permitting flexibility in planning laws to enable guesthouse owners set up on-set pods as additional bedrooms to cater for local tourism demand in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23121/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), there is no specific preclusion to the development by guesthouse owners of pods as additional bedrooms to cater for tourism. All development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. If not exempt, it will therefore be a matter for the local planning authority to determine in accordance with any relevant policies in their current development plan.

Any person may lodge an application for permission to a planning authority in accordance with section 34 of the Act for the construction of pods as additional bedrooms to cater for tourism. It is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider each application on a case-by-case basis and to decide to whether to grant the permission, subject to or without conditions, or to refuse permission.

In making their decision, planning authorities shall also have regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the policies of Government, Ministerial Guidelines and any submissions or observations received on the application during the public participation process in accordance with section 34 of the Act.

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