Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
14. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the judicial review Bill; when this Bill is likely to be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54846/21]
View answerThe General Scheme of the Housing and Planning and Development Bill 2019 now referred to as the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill in the Legislative Programme Autumn Session 2021, was published in late 2019. The General Scheme was the subject of a public consultation process which ended in January 2020. The General Scheme sets out an initial outline of proposed revisions to the judicial review provisions in sections 50 to 50B of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
My Officials are engaging with the Joint Oireachtas Committee (JOC) on Housing, Local Government and Heritage as the General Scheme of the Bill will be undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny before the JOC prior to the commencement of legislative drafting. The appearance before the JOC is now expected to be scheduled early in 2022, once my Departments current legislative files are concluded. It is intended that drafting of the Bill will commence shortly after the appearance before the JOC with the introduction of the new legislation in Q2 2022 and that the new reforms will come into effect on the establishment of the Environmental and Planning Law Court which is also committed to in the Programme for Government.
