Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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272. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government in light of the continued financial challenges facing the hospitality sector, including increased operating costs, staffing shortages and inflationary pressures, if he intends to waive the outdoor furniture licence fee for 2025, as has been the case in previous years since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22653/25]

James Browne (Wexford, 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 associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission.

Furthermore, section 254 of the Act provides for a street furniture licensing system for prescribed appliances and structures, placed on, above, under or along a public road, including footpaths. One of the prescribed structures relates to the placing of tables and chairs outside a hotel, restaurant, public house or other establishment where food is sold for consumption on the premises. Development that is carried out in accordance with section 254 of the Act is deemed exempted development for the purposes of the Act.

Section 246 of the Act provides that the Minister can make Regulations providing for prescribed fees to be paid to planning authorities in relation to applications for grants of licences under s254 of the Act. The fee for a licence for tables and chairs is currently set at €125 per table per year.

I intend to waive the outdoor furniture licence fee for 2025, while noting that this will require regulations to pass through both Houses of the Oireachtas. I have asked my Department to commence this process.