Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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525. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views regarding the retail planning guidelines; if there is a timeline in place for the review of the guidelines; if he is conscious of the fact that the current guidelines are proving to be an impediment to the maintenance and expansion of a business (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37452/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Retail Planning Guidelines were issued as Ministerial Guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act in 2012. Section 28 of the Act provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála (now An Coimisiún Pleanála) are required to have regard to the Guidelines in the performance of their functions. The Guidelines aim to ensure that the planning system plays a key role in supporting competitiveness in the retail sector for the benefit of the consumer in accordance with proper planning and sustainable development.

The guidelines recognise that the retail sector is a key component of the national economy and aims to ensure that the planning system continues to play its role in supporting competitiveness and choice in the sector, while also promoting the vitality and viability of city and town centres.

Under the Guidelines, retail strategies are to be prepared at regional and local levels, which project future retail needs and requirements aligned to the settlement hierarchy established by the National Planning Framework, Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies and City and County Development Plans.

The Planning and Development Act 2024 Implementation Plan, published in March 2025, outlines the commencement schedule for the Act. Chapters 1 and 2 and Part 22 of the Act have commenced and came into effect from 9th June 2025. Part 3 of the Act, which includes the provisions relating to ‘National Planning Statements’ (NPS), which will replace Ministerial Guidelines issued under section 28 of the 2000 Act, is due to be commenced in mid-2025. Following the commencement of Part 3 of the Act, the conversion of existing Guidelines to National Planning Statements will be sequenced over time. In the interests of clarity all existing guidelines will continue to have effect until such time as they are replaced by NPS or revoked.

Having regard to the evolving nature of the retail industry and broader changes that are impacting on the role of city and town centres in recent years, it is envisaged that a review of the Retail Planning Guidelines will be included in the review programme.

In light of section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority may be concerned. Accordingly it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specific case in question.

The Government is progressing a number of initiatives and investment programmes to support the regeneration of retail environments.

The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has established the Retail Forum to support retail business across the country. The purpose of the forum is to allow key issues of relevance to the sector to be discussed, with a view to identifying practical actions that could be taken by Government, or by industry itself, to support the sector with particular emphasis on achieving sustainable jobs growth.

Separately, significant progress has been made in delivering on the actions in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce and Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns.