Written answers
Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Housing Policy
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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569. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to detail the planning process assumptions used in setting the target to deliver 300,000 homes to 2030 under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, including assumed decision times for SHD and LRD applications, planning appeals, and expected judicial review volumes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66200/25]
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 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024 and is in the process of being commenced. The Act of 2024 introduces a range of measures to streamline the planning process.
The Act of 2024 introduces statutory time periods for decision making for An Coimisiún Pleanála (An Coimisiún) for the first time. The headline time periods for An Coimisiún will range from 18 weeks for appeals of decisions of planning authorities to 48 weeks for larger-scale Strategic Infrastructure Developments. The varying timelines reflect the differing complexities of applications dealt with by An Coimisiún.
The Act of 2024 also makes important reforms in relation to Judicial Review (JR). It:
- removes the requirement to apply for leave to apply for JR proceedings which reduces time and removes unnecessary additional legal costs to all parties.
- requires that an application for JR may only be made on the grounds of challenge raised by the applicant in the statement of grounds filed with their application and sets out limited criteria by which the Court may allow subsequent amendments to that statement of grounds.
- provides that an applicant for JR will not be permitted to plead a ground in JR proceedings unless they have a sufficient interest in the matter to which the ground relates.
I am satisfied that the new statutory time periods for An Coimisiún, along with the JR reforms and mandatory declaration procedures set out at section 588 of the Act of 2024 will contribute significantly to the operation of the planning process
My Department is in the processes of commencing of the Act of 2024 on a phased basis to facilitate the transition to the new legislation across the planning system, taking into account the need to liaise with local authorities, planning bodies and other stakeholders. It should be noted that the existing provisions in the Act of 2000 will remain in place until repealed and the relevant provisions in the Act of 2024 are commenced. A detailed implementation plan is available at www.gov.ie/planning
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
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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570. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether the approximately 7,100 hectares of undeveloped land identified on the 2025 Residential Zoned Land Tax maps is sufficient to support the delivery of 303,000 homes to 2030 when realistic density levels are applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66201/25]
John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I refer to my reply to Question No. 682 of 18 November 2025 which sets out the position in relation to this matter.
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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571. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to list the local authorities where the Housing Activation Office has identified barriers to housing delivery; the corrective actions recommended in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66203/25]
James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I have established a Housing Activation Office in my Department to coordinate and accelerate the delivery of infrastructure projects needed to enable housing development. The Office includes experts seconded from Uisce Éireann, ESB Networks, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the local government sector who will support the work of the Office.
The Office is actively engaged in identifying barriers to housing delivery and is coordinating with all local authorities and infrastructure agencies to address barriers.
In the coming months I will be bringing forward a €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund to support direct investment in housing infrastructure. This new fund will complement investment by infrastructure agencies, such as Uisce Éireann and ESB Networks, as part of a more coordinated approach. It will also operate alongside existing investment programmes such as the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund and the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.
While I cannot comment on individual areas in advance of the opening of the Housing Infrastructure Investment fund, the HAO is working closely with all Local Authorities, to identify infrastructure projects needed to unlock key housing sites.
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