Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 July 2017
259. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of times the working group established to review the 2005 sustainable rural housing guidelines for planning authorities has met; the engagement it has had with the European Commission; and the position regarding the progress of the working group to date in 2017. [31646/17]
View answerThe Working Group that is reviewing the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing has been established in light of ongoing engagement between the European Commission and my Department on a matter arising from a European Court of Justice ruling in a Flemish decree case. The Working Group held its first meeting on 18 May and a further meeting on 13 June. On conclusion of the Working Group's deliberations, my Department will engage further with the European Commission on proposed changes to be made to the 2005 Guidelines, which are intended to be finalised in the second half of 2017.
When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, which requires planning authorities, and where appropriate An Bord Pleanála, to have regard to any such planning guidelines in the performance of their statutory functions under the Planning Acts.
