Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2018
667. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a further circular letter has issued on section 3.2.3 of the rural housing guidelines; if not, the reason therefore; the timeframe to issue the circular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11523/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra679. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the findings of the working group on rural housing will be published; the timeframe for the publication of new guidelines on rural housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11619/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 667 and 679 together.
Following engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the Flemish Decree case, a working group, comprising senior representatives from my Department and planning authorities, was established in May 2017 to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, with a view to ensuring that rural housing policies and objectives contained in county development plans comply with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The Working Group concluded its deliberations in September 2017 and my Department is now engaging with the Commission on the matter, with a view to issuing a further circular letter to planning authorities as soon as possible, setting out revisions to the 2005 Guidelines that take account of the ECJ judgment in the Flemish Decree case.
Planning authorities were previously advised by circular letter in May 2017 that they should not amend rural housing policies in their development plans until the Guidelines have been revised. This circular is available to view on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/pl_02-2017_sustainable_rural_housing_guidelines_for_planning_authorities_2005_-_local_need.pdf
