Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
172. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are provisions in legislation for a second extension of duration for a planning application due to expire in December 2020 that has become necessary as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions since March 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30162/20]
View answerIn light of the impacts of the Covid-19 emergency, the Government, on 29 March 2020, made an Order under section 251A of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), which resulted in the extension of time for a range of specified or appropriate periods and timelines in the Planning Acts and associated planning regulations. Further orders were signed on 16 April 2020 and 9 May 2020, the last of which expired on 23 May 2020. The three Orders had the combined effect of extending the relevant planning periods and timelines, including the duration of planning permissions, by an aggregate of 56 days/8 weeks during the time period in which they have effect. Accordingly, on foot of these Orders, the validity of a planning permission due to expire in December 2020 has now been extended by a further 8 weeks. Under section 42 of the Act, the only circumstance in which the holder of a planning permission may be granted a second extension of duration is in respect of a development that relates to 20 or more houses subject to the development being completed within 5 years of the originally extended permission or by 31 December 2021, whichever first occurs.
On 15 September 2020, the Government published its latest response to managing Covid-19 - Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for living with Covid-19. While I don't envisage any further actions will be required for the planning system in the context of this framework at this time, I continue to keep this matter under review.
