Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
592. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the preservation of allotment plots in local authority areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47266/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA comprehensive review of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) was initiated in May 2021, led by the Office of the Attorney General. This process included extensive stakeholder engagement, particularly with the Planning Advisory Forum established in December 2021. The review culminated in the publication of the draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 in January 2023.
The draft Bill subsequently underwent a pre-legislative scrutiny process over a three month period by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Taking consideration of the same and further stakeholder engagement, the Bill was further updated and on 3 October the Cabinet agreed the publication of the Planning and Development Bill 2023.
The Bill includes an objective in relation to the reservation of land for use and cultivation as allotments and the regulation, promotion, facilitation or control of the provision of land for that use and defines allotments for this purpose. The objective in relation to allotments and its definition mirrors the current position in the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The identification and implementation of recreational and amenity spaces is a matter for local authorities, primarily through City/County Development Plans and identifying land for allotment development in a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members in considering and making the plan. The provision of allotment or similar facilities on local authority land is a matter for each individual local authority including their elected members and is subject to availability of resources and community inputs and support for such proposals.
The Bill will be published within the coming weeks and will then commence in the Oireachtas, subject to its timetable.
