Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016
339. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government following the publication of his action plan for housing and homelessness four months ago, the status of the progress made to date on action 3.10 to implement a root and branch review of the planning system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35084/16]
View answerI am currently progressing two Bills through the Houses of the Oireachtas proposing significant reforms of the planning system. The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 is primarily intended to give legislative effect to the planning-related recommendations of the Final Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (otherwise known as the Mahon Tribunal), including the establishment of the new independent Office of the Planning Regulator. The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 provides for the legislative underpinning of a number of key priority commitments in the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland, published in July 2016.
Action 3.10 of the Action Plan incorporates a commitment to commence a "root and branch" review of the planning system, particularly around forecasting, planning and delivering residential development and taking account of the work underway in relation to the development of the National Planning Framework. It is intended to commence the implementation of this action in the first quarter of 2017, in line with the timeline indicated in the Action Plan.
