Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to require local authorities to facilitate a pre-planning meeting for every new significant residential, community and infrastructural development above a set threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12726/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act of 2000) prior to making applications for planning permission for certain types of development the prospective applicant is required to engage in pre-application consultation with the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála (the Board) as appropriate.

In relation to residential development, Large scale Residential Developments (LRD) are developments of greater than 100 residential units or 200 student bed spaces. Under section 32B of the Act of 2000 prospective applicants for LRD are required to hold pre-application consultations (in accordance with section 247 of the Act of 2000) with the relevant planning authority prior to requesting a LRD meeting and prior to lodging any LRD application for planning permission.

Strategic Infrastructural Developments (SID) are set out in the Seventh Schedule of the Act of 2000 and applications for SID are made directly to the Board. Prior to making an application for SID, a prospective applicant must comply with section 37B of the Act of 2000 and enter into consultations with the Board in relation to the proposed development.

The Act of 2000 remains in effect whilst the relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024 (the Act of 2024) are yet to be commenced. Once commenced, provisions for LRD under section 89 of the Act of 2024 and for "Chapter 4 development" which includes SID under section 116 of the Act of 2024 requires that prospective applicants enter into pre-application consultation with the relevant planning authority or An Coimisiún Pleanála as appropriate. These provisions will continue the current requirements for pre-application consultation for LRD and SID. Additionally, under section 89(1) of the Act of 2024, once commenced, the Minister may prescribe where appropriate, other development types which would require a prospective applicant to engage in pre-application consultations with the relevant planning authority.