Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 April 2017
145. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will make changes to the 2005 planning guidelines for sustainable rural housing following the European Court of Justice ruling in 2013 on this issue; the timeframe for changes to these planning guidelines; when directions will be issued to local authorities on these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17173/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraArising from the ECJ judgment referred to in the Question, my Department is currently engaged in consultations with planning authorities regarding potential modifications required to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, with a view to ensuring that rural housing policies and objectives contained in county development plans comply with Article 43 (Freedom of Movement of People) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
On conclusion of these consultations, my Department will be engaging with the European Commission on proposed changes to the Guidelines, with a view to issuing updated Guidelines to planning authorities on the matter in due course. When issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála will have to have regard to these amended Guidelines in the performance of their functions.
