Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
296. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he plans to put in place to compensate for the loss of 27,000 homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20109/23]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála is an independent statutory body with responsibility for decision-making in respect of planning appeals and certain types of planning applications, including Strategic Housing Developments (SHD).
Under section 30 of the Act, as Minister, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which the Board is or may be concerned. As such it would not be appropriate to comment in relation to any SHD applications awaiting decision.
In accordance with section 9(2) of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, in considering the likely consequences for proper planning and sustainable development in the area in which it is proposed to situate an (SHD), An Bord Pleanála (the Board) shall have regard to, inter alia, the provisions of the development plan for the area. Similar provisions apply to non-SHD applications under section 34(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The County Development Plan is the plan that is in force at the time of the decision, being the plan most recently adopted by the elected members of the planning authority concerned. There are currently just under 27,000 housing units in applications for SHD development before the Board, and some, but not all, may be affected by changes to County Development Plans since the submission of the application.
It is for An Bord Pleanála to make an assessment on a case by case basis as to whether or not the legislation or policy, including the adopted development plan, in place on the date of the decision being made permits the granting of permission for development in each individual case. As Minister, I have no role in the specific applications being considered by the Board, including whether any changes to legislation or policy since the submission of the application would prevent permission from being granted for such development.
I acknowledge the recent challenges faced by An Bord Pleanála with regard to the capacity of the Board and the inspectorate to process decisions in a timely manner and in this regard, significant efforts have been made to facilitate additional board members and increases in staffing. SHD applications remaining before the Board are currently being addressed in addition to LRD (Largescale Residential Development) applications, with 4,300 units having been determined in the past month, most of which have been permitted, including almost 1,200 affordable and social homes in two LDA development proposals. My Department will continue to engage with the Interim Chairperson of the Board to support efforts to clear the backlog of cases, including SHD applications.
The Programme for Government and Housing for All committed to not extending the Strategic Housing Development arrangements, which were a time limited measure under section 4 of the 2016 Act. The Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021 has introduced new procedural arrangements for large-scale residential developments.
