Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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514. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when new rural planning guidelines will be published for Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37271/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the National Planning Framework) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment and adapting to and mitigating climate change have become more central to the operation of the planning system.

Updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being considered by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework (NPF), 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 structurally weaker 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 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 the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 28 of the NPF, 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.

When making a decision in relation to an application for permission, a planning authority is restricted to considering the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, regard being had to, inter alia, the provisions of the development plan and any guidelines issued by the Minister, including the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines (2005) which remain in effect.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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515. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average waiting time to get a decision from An Bord Pleanála in each of the years 2021 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the single longest time an application had to wait for approval in each of the years; his views on whether these delays are acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37272/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested is not held by my Department

An Coimisiún Pleanála (the Board) 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.

The Planning and Development Act 2024 includes a number of new provisions relating to An Coimisiún Pleanála, as part of a significant restructure. Part 4 of the Act will introduce statutory time periods for decision making for all consent processes when commenced later this year, including, for the first time, for the Board/An Coimisiún Pleanála. This will bring increased certainty to the planning consent processes, for both the public and stakeholders involved in the delivery of key infrastructure such as housing and renewable energy.

For Coimisiún processes, timelines are being introduced for appeals as well as the various consents applications made directly to the Coimisiún.

It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstances, such as complexity, requests for further information from applicants for permission or further submissions from other participants including third parties, will not meet the statutory targets.

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