Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 April 2024
85. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average wait length for planning permission for individual houses in each of the past ten years, 2024 inclusive. [15528/24]
View answerPlanning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website, and are available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/service/9e4ee-get-planning-statistics/.
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. However, granular data, in terms of the average wait lengths for planning permission for individual houses, is not specifically collected and consequently is not available in my Department. Such information may be sought directly from the relevant planning authority.
There are a range of legislative provisions set out in relation to planning application decision timelines. When a planning application (including for an individual house) is made to a planning authority under section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), section 34(8) of the Act prescribes that the planning authority must make a decision within 8 weeks of receiving a valid application where no further information is requested from the applicant. This 8 week period may be extended in accordance with section 34(8)(b) or (c) of the Act where further information is deemed to be required from the applicant and is requested within 8 weeks of receipt of the planning application.
Where a planning authority receives further information or evidence following a request under article 33 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), or revised plans, drawings or particulars following a request under article 34 of the Regulations, or otherwise receives further information, evidence, revised plans, drawings or particulars in relation to the application, and it considers that the information, evidence, revised plans, drawings or particulars received, as appropriate, contains significant additional data, including information in relation to effects on the environment, the planning authority shall - under article 35 of the Regulations - require the applicant to publish a notice in an approved newspaper advising that further information or revised plans has been received in respect of the planning application and that submissions or observations may be submitted on same within prescribed timeframes. This allows for a further period of public participation on the new information received.
A planning authority shall then make its decision within 4 weeks of such advertisement in accordance with section 34(8)(b) of the Act, except where an Environmental Impact Assessment Report or Natura Impact Statement accompanies a planning application, where the planning authority shall make its decision within 8 weeks of such advertisement in accordance with section 34(8)(c) of the Act.
In addition, section 34(8)(f) of the Act provides that where a planning authority has failed to make a decision in relation to an application within the period specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of section 34(8) of the Act as appropriate (referred to in this paragraph as the "first period") and becomes aware, whether through notification by the applicant or otherwise, that it has so failed, the authority shall proceed to make the decision notwithstanding that the first period has expired.
