Parliamentary questions

707. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the proposal to remove planning requirements for log cabin type residential structures for back gardens; when will this come before the Houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23503/25]

708. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the proposal to remove planning requirements for log cabin type residential structures for back gardens will apply retrospectively, or if it will only apply to new constructions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23504/25]

709. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the number of acquisitions made under social housing second hand acquisitions programme in 2024 and to date in 2025, by property size (one bedroom, two bedroom etc), by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23514/25]

710. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to extend the shared equity scheme and the help to buy scheme for second-hand homes; if so, to outline a timeline for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23545/25]

711. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on whom the duty lies to enforce An Bord Pleanála planning conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23559/25]

712. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if developers are entitled to claim contribution and Uisce Éireann connection waivers after the commencement of works, despite planning conditions as set out by An Bord Pleanála not being adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23560/25]

713. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many staff were employed in An Bord Pleanála for the years 2020 to 2024, as of December in each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23590/25]

714. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the total number of applications awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanála for 6, 12, 18, 24, 24, 30, 36 and 36+ months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23600/25]

715. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the number of judicial review cases involving An Bord Pleanála in 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23601/25]

716. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many decisions made by An Bord Pleanála were overturned after judicial review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23602/25]

717. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cases where An Bord Pleanála agreed with the court to overturn or amend a decision in 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23603/25]

718. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the amount An Bord Pleanála spent on legal fees in 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23604/25]

719. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage An Bord Pleanála’s budget for legal costs for the years 2025 and 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23605/25]

720. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many county directors of planning hold professional planning qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23606/25]

721. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the recommended number of planners for county councils nationwide, as per various reports and reviews, to enable them to manage their growing workload and function in a timely efficient manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23607/25]

722. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how any shortfall will be addressed and new planners recruited as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23608/25]

723. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether all county councils have been instructed to recruit overseas as well as in the Irish market to fill vacancies, including posts in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23609/25]

724. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage f he can provide any monitoring function or statistics or reports on the time it takes to get pre-planning meetings at the various county councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23610/25]

725. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planning appeal cases awaiting decision with An Bord Pleanála as of 1 May 2025; the number of homes included in those cases; how many involve single homes; how many involve multiple homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23612/25]

726. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff that are now de facto employed in An Bord Pleanála as of 1 May 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23614/25]

727. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new staff that will be employed in An Bord Pleanála in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23615/25]

728. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new staff sanctioned for employment in An Bord Pleanála 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23616/25]

729. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff that will retire from An Bord Pleanála in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23617/25]

730. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the staff retention rate in An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23618/25]

731. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of staff doing overtime in An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23619/25]