Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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774. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to set out the schedule for commencement of the various chapters and sections of the Planning and Development Act 2025, indicating which chapters and sections will be implemented this year and in what month or quarter. [24425/25]

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 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 of 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.

In summary, the first phase of commencements will provide for the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála (Part 17) and introduce provisions relating the taking of judicial reviews (Chapters 1 & 3 of Part 9), Events and Funfairs (Part 16) and a range of supplemental and supporting provisions.

The second phase of commencements, due to take place in mid-2025, will include provisions relating to Plans, Polices and Related Matters under Part 3 that are to be brought into operation alongside Chapters 1 & 2 of Part 6, Chapter 1 of Part 7, Part 18 and Part 22. All remaining Parts are scheduled to be brought into operation towards the end of 2025 and a range of consequential amendments will be made as each Part of the Act of 2024 is commenced.

It is important to note that the commencement of the Act is dependent on a number of external factors, the development of secondary legislation (some of which will require Oireachtas approval) and a range of other operational and organisational considerations. To a large extent, the scale of the new Act (the third largest in the history of the State) and the arrangement of its provisions predetermines the order in which the various Parts of the Act can be brought into effect.