Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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62. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the implementation of the Planning and Development Act 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35866/25]

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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431. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to set out the schedule and timeline for commencement of each section of the Planning and Development Act 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36583/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 431 together.

The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted on 17 October 2024. A comprehensive Implementation Plan, including a detailed commencement schedule, has been published on www.gov.ie/planning and outlines a range of initiatives to support training and engagement for the planning sector.

The Act of 2024 is being commenced on a phased basis to facilitate the transition from the arrangements under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Act of 2000) to those under the new legislative framework. The phased commencement will take into account the need for key stakeholders, such as local authorities, regional assemblies, the Office of the Planning Regulator and An Coimisiún Pleanála, as well as the wider public sector and others who engage with the planning system, to be fully prepared as new provisions are brought into operation.

The Implementation Plan is intended to be a ‘living document’ that informs and guides the commencement and roll-out of the Act of 2024 and it will be revised and updated to remain reflective and relevant throughout the period of the Act's implementation.

As part of the first phase of commencements, Chapters 1 and 2 of Part 22 of the Act of 2024 came into operation on 9 June 2025. These provisions set out the initial steps in a broader process concerning the designation of a candidate 'urban development zone’ or ‘UDZ’. The overall aim of the new UDZ process is to provide for an updated and more flexible approach to the planning and delivery of areas with significant potential for large scale development and the associated necessary infrastructure, replacing those provisions that provide for the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) process under Part IX of the Act of 2000.

Part 17 of the Act of 2024 that provided for the restructuring of An Bord Pleanála by separating its decision-making role from its corporate and organisational functions and renaming it 'An Coimisiún Pleanála' came into operation on 18 June 2025.

The remaining elements of the first phase of commencements for the Act of 2024 that are scheduled to be brought into effect are:

• Judicial Review (Chapter 1 of Part 9)
• Funfairs (Part 16) and supplemental provisions.
• Event Licensing (Part 16) and supplemental provisions.

• Plans, Policies and Related Matters (Part 3)
• Environmental Assessments (Chapters 1 & 2 of Part 6)
• Housing Strategy and Supply (Chapter 1 of Part 7)
• Office of the Planning Regulator (Part 18)
• Urban Development Zones (Chapters 3 to 6 of Part 22)