Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the plans he has to change the regulations for small dwellings, such a portacabins to be built in people’s gardens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28469/25]

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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282. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when easing of planning regulations to allow for larger unattached structures to be built in peoples back gardens are expected to be in place; the size that will be enforced; the provisions that will be in place for an individual who breaches these planning laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28356/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 282 together.

The Planning and Development Act 2024 was enacted in October 2024 and is in the process of being commenced. The provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001 remain in force until the relevant sections of the Act of 2024 are commenced and the corresponding sections of the Act of 2000 are repealed.

A review of the current Exempted Development Regulations is ongoing and engagement with Government Bodies is due to be completed in the coming weeks. Following this, a wider public consultation on exempted development regulations will be undertaken. All interested parties including members of the public will be able to make submissions in writing as part of the consultation process.

I, my Department, or Government do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of any consultation and therefore no decision has been made in respect of any revisions to current exempted development provisions at this stage. This includes exemptions for larger unattached structures and modular housing units – sometimes referred to as ‘log cabins’ and ‘portacabins’ – in back gardens. Any update to Exempted Development Regulations will require positive resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas before it can be signed into law.