Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 April 2024
72. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the planning guidelines in respect of childcare facilities as part of large-scale developments will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16990/24]
View answerThe Guidelines for Planning Authorities relating to Childcare Facilities, were issued in 2001 by my Department under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, to provide a framework to guide both local authorities and developers. Planning Authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to the guidelines in carrying out their functions.
The Guidelines set out the methodology for calculating adequate provision of childcare places and are intended to ensure a consistency of approach to the treatment of applications in respect to the land use planning aspects of childcare provision, for relevant planning applications, developers and childcare providers in formulating and considering development proposals.
The Guidelines for Planning Authorities relating to Childcare Facilities recommend that, in the case of new housing areas, a standard of one childcare facility providing for a minimum of 20 childcare places per approximately 75 dwellings may be appropriate, depending on the particular circumstances of each individual site.
My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to updating the guidelines and further engagement is planned to advance this area of work.
It should be noted that the Draft Planning and Development Bill 2023 includes provisions which propose to replace Section 28 Ministerial Planning Guidelines with ‘National Planning Statements’. Following enactment of the legislation, it is proposed to undertake a programme of review of existing Section 28 guidelines with the intention of replacing them with National Planning Statements, noting that this programme of work will be sequenced over time. It is envisaged that public consultation will be undertaken as part of this process.
Work undertaken to date by my Department and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in reviewing the current childcare guidelines will contribute towards the preparation of a National Planning Statement relating to childcare facilities in due course.
