Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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1173.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 30 May 2024, the timeline for the publication of the draft planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33254/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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An Interdepartmental Group (comprising my Department, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and údarás na Gaeltachta) is still continuing its work in developing specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas. There is also a separate Working Group made up of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, údarás na Gaeltachta and the relevant local authorities with Gaeltacht areas.

At the Interdepartmental Group meeting of 15 December 2022, it was agreed that the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media would commence a study in 2023 on the methodology and format for Linguistic Impact Statements as a key elements of future planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas. This study was subsequently commenced in February 2023. Initial proposals have been received from consultant, whose work is nearing completion, and this is informing the draft of planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas. Several Interdepartmental Group meetings took place in 2023 and bilateral Departmental engagement is ongoing.

The draft planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas are currently being finalised for my review in the first instance and then mandatory screening under EU law for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as well as for the purposes of Appropriate Assessment (AA). It is intended that, subject to the outcome of the screening exercises, that draft guidelines will then be published for public consultation.

All local organisations in Gaeltacht areas and members of the public including language groups will be able to submit their views on the draft during this consultation phase for the consideration of my Department.

It is my intention to publish these Guidelines, having regard to the need to consider the complex matters involved and further to engagement with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

In this regard, and noting the importance of consultation on these matters in ensuring that a robust and effective policy position is reached, I intend to publish a proposed policy approach for consultation as soon as possible in order to inform the finalisation of the draft guidelines.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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1174.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 29 May 2024, the status of the development of the new draft rural housing guidelines; the timeline for the publication of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33255/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment and adapting to and mitigating climate change have become more central to the operation of the planning system.

Updated Rural Housing 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 or economic need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.

The 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.

While planning policy is a national, as opposed to an EU competence, due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft planning guidelines will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.

Having regard to these complex considerations, the draft guidelines are subject to legal review and Ministerial approval, following which it is intended that the draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation.