Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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149. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action that has been taken to allow for plebiscites to change placenames; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17803/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In early 2019, legislative amendments to provisions relating to placename changes in Part 18 of the amended Local Government Act 2001 were commenced. At the same time, previous provisions under local government legislation for the changing of placenames were repealed, and replaced by provisions in the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, amending Part 18 of the 2001 Act, which were also commenced.

The commenced provisions under the amended Part 18 of the 2001 Act require updated Regulations to be made for the holding of plebiscites to change placenames. However, issues were identified in respect of the interaction of the amended Part 18 of the Local Government Act 2001 and provisions contained in Official Languages legislation.

In advance of making the necessary Regulations, my Department is engaging with the Department responsible for the Official Languages Act. Proposed amendments to address the identified issues in the interaction between the two legislative codes are under consideration.