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That is the point I am making. Choices have to be made. As regards the planning in terms of the exemptions and so on, it is a major package of exempted development regulations to reduce planning bureaucracy. Planning bureaucracy has slowed us down in terms of housing provision

reduce the pressure on rural planning and help to make villages vibrant. The residential zoned land tax, RZLT, is suitable for cities but is not appropriate in rural Ireland and should be abolished outside the main cities. It mitigates against housing development in rural areas because sometimes … rural Ireland. It should be encouraged in rural areas and villages and no development levy should be applied where a unit is being changed to an Airbnb. Current operators should be exempt from planning. They bring tourists to parts of Ireland that would otherwise never have tourists

digest states, contrary to the Minister's opening remarks, this in effect would mean exempting critical infrastructure projects from being consistent with the most recent climate action plans and strategies, adaptation frameworks and plans, and national climate objectives, including mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. It is notable that … designate any project or programme as a critical infrastructure project, public or private. Additionally, should the fast-track, one-stage planning process in the Planning and Development Act 2024 not yet executed be executed, we may be in the extraordinary situation where this Bill effectively allows the Government

plan to allow landlords to rent out modular units risks subjecting renters, vulnerable young people and migrants to this very phenomenon. This is potentially opening the door to the exploitation of vulnerable renters in the private rental market. Yes, we need more flexibility for exempted development but allowing

significant new policies or measures in the Climate Action Plan 2025, to close the gap in meeting 2030 climate targets; — relevant Government Ministers have not yet fulfilled their duties under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts to attend the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment … through missing climate targets; — the Government has proposed legislation that will fundamentally undermine the functioning of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, by exempting carbon intensive projects from scrutiny under that Act; — the Government intends to increase Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels through the creation

permanent provision of social housing. The good news is that up to 23,000 more are in different stages of design and development. That is one aspect. The others are affordable and cost rental. Yesterday I was at a sod-turning for 800 new units, not cabins … since records began and up 20% on 2024. Some 170,000 houses have been built since 2020, with 50,000 apartments built. On planning momentum, 8,000 permissions were granted in quarter 4 of 2025, up 19%. Permission was granted for 20,000 houses in 2025, the highest

Others have said that and Deputy Fitzmaurice mentioned it. Water, energy and transport systems are the foundations that drive overall delivery and economic development, whether it is in housing or other areas. By doing this we send a clear and unambiguous signal to the entire system that … designating projects can only work if restraint is exercised in the designation. Designating too many projects will not allow the licensing, consenting and planning bodies to effectively prioritise. It is intended that the process of identifying which projects or programmes are designated and subject to accelerated consideration will

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to amend the Exempted Development Regulations; what will be included in these changes; when he expects that the changes will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24288/26

Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the recent public consultation by his Department regarding proposed changes to planning laws and regulations regarding modular homes as exempted development in certain cases, when will these be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23566/26

each of the seven large-scale international protection accommodation service centres that are proposed to be exempted from normal planning requirements under the General Scheme of the Planning and Development Act (Planning Status of State Sites) Amendment Bill 2025; and to confirm the current operational status of each

organisations that have met with the Minister of State with responsibility for planning (details supplied) and his political advisors or Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage officials on the issue of domestic residential exempted development regulations in the past six months; and the dates on which these