Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 September 2018
239. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the new revised guidance for local authorities on one-off rural housing regulations will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39187/18]
View answer253. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding the working group comprising officials from planning authorities and his Department which was established to review and revise the 2005 planning guidelines on sustainable rural housing; if the review has concluded; if he has engaged with the European Commission on proposed changes to the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39299/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 253 together.
Following engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, a working group, comprising senior representatives from my Department and planning authorities, was established in May 2017 to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The objective is to ensure that rural housing policies and objectives contained in local authority development plans comply with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The Working Group has concluded its deliberations and, taking account of the Group's analysis and recommended outcome, my Department has been engaging with the Commission on the matter, with a view to issuing revisions to the 2005 Guidelines that take account of the relevant ECJ judgment to planning authorities by the end of this year.
