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Planning Guidelines

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Questions (627)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

627. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the work of the working group on rural planning guidelines; when he expects the work of the group to conclude; and when he expects to be in a position to engage with the Houses of the Oireachtas and local authorities on new guidelines for county development plans post the 2019 local government elections to provide guidance on this issue. [46836/18]

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Written answers

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 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 comprised three senior officials from the Planning Division of my Department and six senior officials from the Planning Divisions of local authorities nominated by the Local Government Management Agency. The Group met on three occasions: 18 May, 13 June and 28 June 2017.

Taking account of the working group's analysis and recommended outcome, my Department has been engaging with the European Commission on the matter with a view to issuing to planning authorities, by the end of this year, revisions to the 2005 Rural Housing Guidelines that take account of the relevant ECJ judgment. It may be possible to finalise the Guidelines earlier than that, subject to the completion of outstanding work.

Further, the National Planning Framework (NPF), published under Project Ireland 2040, sits at the top of the planning policy hierarchy in Ireland and provides a structure for future development and investment over the next two decades. This national level planning policy is being implemented at the regional level through preparation of statutory Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES) for the three Regional Assembly areas.

The RSES process formally commenced earlier this year and the draft Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly RSES is now on public display until 23 January 2019. The two other draft RSESs (Northern and Western Regional Assembly and Southern Regional Assembly), subject to Regional Assembly approval, are expected to be put on public display in the coming weeks.

The finalisation of these regional strategies in the first half of 2019 will in turn prompt reviews and updates of individual county and city development plans to ensure strategic co-ordination and consistency between national, regional and local levels.

It is my intention to publish updated Development Plans: Guidelines for Planning Authorities in 2019 to assist planning authorities in the implementation of the NPF at the regional and local levels. This will include updated Core Strategy guidance which will guide planning authorities in implementing effective and appropriate core strategies within their city/county areas.

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