Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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502. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of An Bord Pleanála refusing planning permission due to population targets potentially being exceeded by the proposed residential development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36233/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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An Coimisiún Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2024, the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and certain other Acts.

Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended the Minister shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case(s) with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned. As such, my Department does not have any information in relation to the issue raised.

Section 86 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 sets out the various matters which planning authorities and the Commission shall have regard to when performing any function under Part 4 of that Act, including the determination of planning permissions. It consolidates various obligations that were contained in a number of sections of the Act of 2000. It ensures that regard is had to the relevant plans and policies in place and to the principles of proper planning and sustainable development for both land-based development and maritime development.

Under section 86(7) of the Act of 2024, a planning authority or the Commission cannot refuse planning permission for the reason only that the housing growth target in a settlement’s housing development strategy has already been reached.

Under Section 86(8) of that Act, where the grant of planning permission by a planning authority or the Commission would cause a settlement’s housing growth target to be exceeded, it may grant permission subject to the following criteria being met.

Firstly, that the grant of permission would be consistent with the objectives relating to that settlement specified in the relevant development plan and consistent with any objectives specified in an urban area plan, priority area plan or coordinated area plan relating to that settlement.

Secondly, having regard to the size of the settlement, the planning authority or the Commission considers that the number of other planning permissions already granted in respect of development or proposed development that would cause the settlement’s housing growth target to be exceeded does not undermine the underlying purpose of that housing growth target, and the grant of the permission would not otherwise be inappropriate.

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Coimisiún Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.