Questions

207. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware of concerns raised in recent commentary regarding the persistent failure to enforce planning law against unauthorised quarrying activities, including the observation that affected communities are increasingly forced to rely on environmental and EU legislation rather than domestic planning enforcement to addr…

208. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware of instances in County Galway where unauthorised quarry operations have continued for prolonged periods without effective enforcement action by Galway County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10942/26]

209. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has assessed whether Galway County Council has adequate staffing levels, technical expertise, legal resources and funding to effectively pursue planning enforcement actions against unauthorised quarries; the measures, if any, the Government plans to take to support Galway County Council, including through…

693. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider introducing national planning guidance or legislative requirements to provide for the installation of swift nesting boxes in new residential and public developments; if his attention has been drawn to initiatives led by Fingal County Council, including the provision of swift boxes in new local authorit…

694. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has examined the potential biodiversity benefits of requiring swift nesting boxes in new developments, given their low cost, minimal maintenance and role in protecting a declining species; whether such measures could be incorporated into national biodiversity or climate adaptation policy; and if he will make …

697. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current timeline for bicycle storage to become exempted developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9417/26]

718. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the housing crisis by changing national planning guidelines that prevent applicants who wish to build a family home in rural areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9995/26]

280. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish details of the criteria needed for an accommodation provider (details supplied) to obtain the necessary planning permission in advance on new regulations coming into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8945/26]

705. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether an assessment was undertaken of the practical impact of section 85(1)(c)-(d ) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 on the delivery of grid connections and other long linear infrastructure projects; and if so, to provide the findings of that assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8588/26]

706. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how applicants are expected to demonstrate existing statutory or compulsory purchase powers at planning application stage, given that such powers are typically only conferred after the granting of planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8589/26]

707. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he accepts that section 85(1) ) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 has the effect of limiting eligibility to apply for permission to statutory utilities, thereby excluding private developers; and if so, the measures that are proposed to prevent adverse impacts on competition and renewable delivery; and if he will ma…

708. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the intended commencement date for section 85(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2024; and whether commencement will be deferred pending clarification or amendment of the relevant provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8591/26]

709. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has received proposals from industry to amend section 85(1)(c)-(d ) of the Planning and Development Act 2024 to include applicants who would be eligible to apply for statutory powers following the granting of permission; and if so, the current status of consideration of those proposals; and if he will make …

710. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he accepts that legislative provisions which require certainty of land access or statutory powers prior to the granting of planning permission risk creating legal and delivery deadlock for strategic infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8595/26]

304. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if modular homes will be given favourable consideration for planning permission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7204/26]

305. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage as part of the solution to the housing crisis and in addition to allowing planning exemptions for modular homes in back gardens, to allow modular homes be given favourable consideration in the context of obtaining planning permission as a replacement for one off housing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the m…

618. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has obtained legal advice on whether the proposed regulations under section 294 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, which would cap recoverable costs even for successful applicants in environmental proceedings, are compatible with Ireland’s obligations under EU law and the Aarhus Convention; whether any assessment has be…

626. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average duration of planning appeals determined by An Bord Pleanála in 2025, as published in its Annual Report, broken down by development type. [5673/26]

141. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the expected timescale for the exemption of family residential units up to 40 sq. m in back gardens; whether this will restrict the commercial rental of such units without planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5319/26]

162. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average timeframe for An Coimisiún Pleanála to determine planning applications remitted by the High Court; the number of such cases currently awaiting decision; the proportion refused to date; the measures being taken to reduce delays and improve certainty in these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5029/2…

163. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the modular housing guidelines; when publication is expected; and whether local authorities will receive direction on their implementation. [5044/26]

167. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department monitors the average length of time a home-builder must wait for planning permission; the steps his Department is taking to reduce the wait time for planning decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3833/26]

174. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the number of properties which have availed of the planning exemption for change of use from commercial to residential, in 2025, by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5022/26]

218. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the sites availing of the single stage approval in the Dublin City Council area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4870/26]

220. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is assessing the broadening of the single stage approval process for further housing developments, such as student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5005/26]