Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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403. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the definition of areas under urban influence as defined under the previous national planning framework and ensure that this far too broad definition is changed and not applied to the new national planning framework. [26333/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The final revised National Planning Framework (NPF) was approved by Government and both Houses of the Oireachtas in April 2025. This concluded the revision process and allows the revised NPF to take effect in the planning system.

Updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework, in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 28 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, large towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and other rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other. NPO 28 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social or economic need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.

The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will also set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in rural areas based on the considerations detailed in NPO 28, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.

While planning policy is a national, as opposed to an EU competence, due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft planning guidelines will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.

To ensure compliance with all of these considerations, the Guidelines will need to be subject to environmental assessment and legal review, following which it is intended that they will be published for a period of public consultation.