Based on general information, including data collected by the Dublin local authorities, my Department estimates that there are some 70-80,000 planning permissions granted but not activated to date, and some 40,000 of these are in the Dublin area. This has influenced many of the actions in Housing for All to activate permissions more broadly, including initiatives such as Project Tosaigh being advanced by the Land Development Agency (LDA). It is also important to note that the activities of the LDA are influenced by national plans such as the National Planning Framework and Housing for All and also the individual county and city development plans for each local authority.
It is important however to note that the targets set for social housing under Housing for All are based on the Housing Needs Demand Assessment and Summary of Social Housing Assessments. Similarly, Affordable Housing Targets for local authority delivery have been set and the relevant housing need in each area was considered as a factor in setting those targets. The degree to which delivery includes already permitted units is a separate consideration.
These perspectives are drawn from general estimates, as my Department does not collate specific data on the estimated number of outstanding planning permissions which have been granted in each local authority area for which development has not commenced. Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/9e4ee-get-planning-statistics/.
However, the data collected relates to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission, broken down by year and planning authority but are not broken down by number of outstanding planning permissions which have been granted in each local authority. Such information may be sought directly from the relevant planning authority.
In addition, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical office, compiles and makes available detailed data on a number of planning related issues including permissions granted and completions by development type and county. Data is available at the following link on the CSO website: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/construction/planningpermissions/.
Data on the commencement notices of developments to which the Building Regulations apply is published by my Department online at www.gov.ie/en/publication/a5cb1-construction-activity-starts/ but would not include information on development where construction has not commenced.
