Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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416.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if access to pre-planning meetings with local government is provided as standard; if not, which local authorities provide it as part of their planning process; if he will ensure that all residents will have equal access to this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25399/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or the associated Planning and Development Regulations, 2001, as amended (the Regulations), requires planning permission.

Section 247 of the Act sets out the process for pre-planning meetings (also referred to as pre-application consultations).

Section 247(1) provides that a person who has an interest in land and who intends to make a planning application may, with the agreement of the planning authority concerned (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), enter into consultations with the planning authority in order to discuss any proposed development in relation to the land and the planning authority may give advice to that person regarding the proposed application.

The purpose of pre-planning meetings is to identify any potential issues arising from the proposal at an early stage so as to avoid unnecessary delays or costs following the submission of the application. In order to expedite the process, pre-application consultations may be conducted via phone or email. Face-to-face meetings are also available, but may be reserved for larger or more complex proposals. These will generally be arranged by the local authority Development Management Planning team.

The applicant may be required to submit certain documentation in order to ensure that the consultation will be productive. In the Development Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities of 2007 (Chapter 2.5), which were issued under section 28 of the Act, planning authorities are advised that requests for such consultations should be facilitated as quickly as possible so that where a meeting with the area planner is requested, such a meeting should ideally be arranged within 2-3 weeks. Where the area planner is unavailable, arrangements should be made to provide a properly briefed substitute.