Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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465. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are any plans to review or increase the current planning exemption threshold for playgrounds, presently set at €127,000, when undertaken by a local authority, to account for rising construction costs and inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35603/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 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 (Act of 2000), and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (Regulations of 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until the relevant sections of the Act of 2024 are commenced and the corresponding sections of the Act of 2000 are repealed.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 all associated planning regulations has been ongoing. This is a sizeable task, with over 100 regulations, amounting to approximately 1,200 pages, needing to be scrutinised and updated. This review of regulations is being progressed in line with appropriate transitional arrangements for the commencement of the new legislation.

Regulations relating to local authority 'own development' including article 80 of the Regulations of 2001, which sets out a €126,000 threshold for the development of playgrounds, will be considered under the aforementioned ongoing review and revised if considered appropriate.