Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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144. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide a list of the dates at which processes and consultation around local authority development plans will begin over the next three years. [36491/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The local authority Development Plan is the principal planning strategy document to guide the physical development of each city and county over a six-year period. The relevant statutory provisions governing the preparation, adoption and variation of development plans are currently primarily found in sections 9 to 13 of Planning and Development Act 2000.

Section 9(1) of the Act requires each planning authority to adopt a new development plan every 6 years. Within 4 years of making a development plan, each planning authority must commence a review process and begin work on the preparation of a new development plan for its area. Planning authorities retain discretion to choose the date on which to commence this process, once it occurs within the relevant statutory time period. Time limits specified within the Act are also subject to section 251 which makes an allowance for the period from 24^th December to 1^st January. A detailed overview of the plan-making process can be found in the Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities, issued by the Minister in July 2022.

The Planning and Development Act 2024 ("Act of 2024") was enacted on 17 October 2024. Given its scale, the Act of 2024 is being commenced on a phased basis to facilitate the transition from arrangements under the current Planning and Development Act (Act of 2000) to the new legislative framework. A comprehensive Implementation Plan has been published that includes a detailed commencement schedule for the Act and a range of initiatives to support training and engagement for the planning sector. The Implementation Plan is a ‘living document’ that informs and guides the commencement and rollout of the Act of 2024 and it will be updated as required to remain relevant throughout the period of its implementation. This is available at gov.ie/planning.

On 27 May 2025, Government approved the priority drafting of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Bill includes provision to ensure that following the approval of the revised NPF, the updated housing requirements can be incorporated into the planning system as quickly as possible and to give clarity to the sector that this can be done under the Act of 2000 while the Act of 2024 is being commenced. Amendments to Part 3 of the Act of 2024 will allow for variations to development plans and local area plans underway under the Act of 2000 upon commencement of the Act of 2024 to continue under the Act of 2000. It also provides for the assessment of variations to Development Plans that were made under and have continued in force from the Act of 2000. It is intended to that this Bill will be enacted before the Summer recess, subject to approval of the Oireachtas.

Under the Act of 2024, all existing development plans are to be replaced with a new form of development plan incorporating a number of thematic strategies, which will have a longer lifespan of 10 years. Further information will be communicated to planning authorities upon commencement of the relevant provisions. Section 68 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, includes transitionary arrangements which allow, in certain circumstances and where necessary,  existing development plans to continue in force as the planning system transitions to operate under the new structures provided for in the 2024 Act.  

The table below sets out the current timespan of each of the 31 local authority development plans. Specific details in relation to the review of individual plans may be found on the website of the respective local authorities.