Written answers
Thursday, 20 March 2025
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Planning Issues
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of active strategic development zones of which his Department is aware, and the number planned over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12646/25]
James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Part IX of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that the Government may, by order, when proposed by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, designate one or more sites for the establishment of a strategic development zone (SDZ) to facilitate development deemed to be of economic or social importance to the State. The legislation states that the Order shall specify the development agency and the type or types of development that may be established in the SDZ. Within two years of designation, the specified development agency is required to prepare a planning scheme indicating the manner in which it the SDZ is to be developed, for adoption by the members of the planning authority. The decision of the elected members can be appealed to An Bord Pleanála and the board can approve the scheme with or without amendments, or not make the scheme.
The list of designated SDZs is as follows:
- Adamstown (South Dublin)
- Hansfield (Fingal)
- Clonmagadden (Meath)
- Balgaddy – Clonburris (South Dublin)
- Cherrywood (Dun Laoghaire Rathdown)
- Monard (Cork)
- Grangegorman (Dublin City)
- North Lotts – Grand Canal (Dublin City)
- Poolbeg West (Dublin City)
- North Quays (Waterford)
- Ireland West Airport Knock (Mayo)
Part 21 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 when commenced will provide that sites designated under the Planning and Development Act 2000 shall continue to be an SDZ. The Act also provides that Urban Development Zones (UDZ) will replace the SDZ concept, recognising the need to facilitate active plan-led management of land for development and regeneration at scale in appropriate locations aligned with compact growth objectives set out in the National Planning Framework. It is intended that the UDZ designation will be applicable to large-scale areas in single or multiple land ownership that could include public and-or private lands and transport-led development areas. Given the need to prioritise the planning and delivery of development in key areas, the UDZ provisions permit the early identification of potentially suitable sites, followed by the plan-led designation of candidate UDZ sites in the local authority development plan. This affords a key role for elected members and other stakeholders and facilitates early delivery of development once the planning framework for the area is incorporated into the development plan. The UDZ provisions will be commenced in conjunction with the commencement of the Planning and Development Act 2024, details of which are set out in an Implementation Plan that is available to view on my Department's website.
John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the introduction of special development plans for Gaeltacht areas, as per the objective of the programme for Government. [12716/25]
James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Planning and Development Act 2024 ("Act of 2024") was enacted on 17 October 2024. A detailed Implementation Plan has now been published that includes a commencement schedule for the Act and a range of initiatives to support training and engagement for the planning sector in preparation for the phased transition to the new legislative framework. The Implementation Plan is a ‘living document’ that informs and guides the commencement and rollout of the Act of 2024 and it will be updated as required to remain relevant throughout the period of its implementation. It is available to view at www.gov.ie/planning.
The first phase of commencements will provide for the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála (Part 17), provisions relating the taking of judicial reviews (Part 9, Chapters 1 and 3) and Events and Funfairs (Part 16) as well as several related and supporting provisions. As part of the second phase of commencements due to take place in mid-2025, provisions relating to Plans, Polices and Related Matters under Part 3 will be brought into operation (including development plans). This includes Section 72(4) which provides that where a development plan sets out settlement-specific objectives in respect of any Gaeltacht or inhabited offshore island that the planning authority shall prepare a priority area plan for one or more such Gaeltacht or inhabited offshore island.
At present, the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, sets out mandatory objectives for local authorities, which must be addressed in the drafting of their Development Plan governing local development policies. Where there is a Gaeltacht area within the planning authority’s administrative area, the development plan must include provisions and objectives for “the protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht including the promotion of Irish as the community language”.
The Development Plans Guidelines for Local Authorities published in July 2022 give further guidance to local authorities, including reflecting the Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas (Limistéar Pleanála Teanga – LPTs as required under the Gaeltacht Act 2012) as well as the inclusion of further policies such as ensuring that development proposals in Gaeltacht areas have a positive impact on the linguistic and cultural heritage that can be robustly assessed at planning application stage.
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