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undertaking a review of the exempted development provisions, which will provide further options for provision of housing. A public consultation process will commence this month and updated regulations will come into force later this year. The commencement of Part 17 of the Planning and Development Act to establish

want to see more local authorities availing of that scheme. Planning exemptions are available for the conversion of certain vacant commercial properties into residential use, which are proving successful. In 2024 alone, more than 290 exemption notifications for more than 700 homes were provided, the highest yearly total … introduction. This was extended to include former vacant pubs a couple of years ago. It is the intention to extend those exemptions further through the exempted development. As Deputy O'Connell, in budget 2026, the living city initiative, which is a tax relief, can be claimed and extended

zoned land tax because it is a derelict site. This is despite planning permission being granted on the site and the person having to go to An Coimisiún Pleanála and judicial review. Surely the developer, who is anxious to break ground on the site and who has entered … Gould would know it quite well also, which has gone in for planning permission 23 times and has been turned down. It has been a derelict site for the past 30 or 40 years. The developer is looking for an extra floor. The developer needs to build

class 3A exemption. It is a matter for the planning authority to investigate any concerns raised on a case-by-case basis and determine if enforcement proceedings are or are not required, as the case may be. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development

There is a strong pipeline of future developments, with over 5,150 additional affordable purchase homes approved for support from the affordable housing fund across 22 local authority areas. From budget 2026, cost-rental homes will be exempt from corporation tax, making projects more viable and ensuring … promised in the programme for Government, the amount of the credit will increase gradually over the lifetime of this plan. A lengthy eviction ban or rent freeze would hamper supply and ultimately, help nobody. We do not have to look too far away from here. In Berlin

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

developer-provided infrastructure element and the commitment Deputy Cahill has shown in raising constructed wetlands consistently in this House. There is a very good example of it in my constituency in Dunhill, County Waterford. In relation to the modular systems, we are going to provide planning exemptions

exempt smaller, modular and ancillary units such as granny flats or home offices up to 40 sq m, depending on the final regulation. Easing of these planning regulations to allow for larger, unattached structures to be built in people's back gardens and sites is a welcome development

careful. Public participation is a vital part of the planning process. If exemptions are being granted for part of that process, transparency will be key. People have a right to be informed. I note that in enabling exemptions for EIAs in cases where a response to a civil … participation requirement under the 1992 EPA Act is also exempted. We need to be conscious also of our obligations under the Aarhus Convention. I welcome the fact the Minister will be required to publish the reasons for granting exemption orders but still, no notification or explanation alone

chance with Clonburris strategic development zone but a hames was made of it but this is another day's debate. In terms of assisting with supply, nothing in the Bill addresses barriers to construction such as costs, slow delivery, planning and other aspects. We have the gradual disappearance … that some of the measures could push up rents even higher. By exempting new units from certain caps, the Bill could end up creating a two-tier market, as others have said, whereby new developments can charge a lot more, even allowing for the consumer price index. This

were, has been a big challenge because the regulatory burden is very significant in terms of making developments viable in that space. Our new housing plan will be launched in July. I hope we will see actions that involve working with the Minister … Deputy Browne, in that regard to ensure that happens. The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, is very focused on that in terms of planning exemptions. There is a lot of work we can do. We are also working closely with the local authorities. We see very different stimulus

then the crash came along and all the building activity stopped. It has recently started up again but there is absolutely no plan, with the exception of a small element to be done by the city council, to comprehensively build community facilities there before it is too late … that there is a lot of social housing, AHB, development happening at present but as I understand it, they are exempt from section 48 development levies. The very tool a local authority like the city council or others would use to fund the installation of community facilities upfront

years. This includes the key areas of energy, water and transport on which all future development relies. These sectors were further defined as critical infrastructure in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan published last December. This report sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four areas, with … progress with planned actions for quarter 2 and beyond. We remain committed to the delivery of the plan. The Cabinet committee on infrastructure is updated regularly on progress, with the accelerating infrastructure task force, AIT, meeting monthly and continuing to support the delivery of the plan. As regards

that the organisation is managing a significant portfolio of properties throughout the Gaeltacht. An t-údarás has, over a number of years, developed a level of expertise in providing wastewater facilities serving its network of business parks and industrial estates across Gaeltacht areas. Údarás na Gaeltachta has stated … actions and significant investment in housing provided through the Government's housing action plan will also support increased housing supply in Gaeltacht areas. The Private Members' motion also proposes a stamp duty exemption for consideration. As indicated previously by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, such a measure

task force was established to identify and assess measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, but the plan in that regard is still being developed. The necessary urgency is not there. Having spoken to people locally who are dealing with renewable energy, I am aware … need to be made across the board. Recently, I met two people in Ballyheigue who had just bought electric vehicles, EVs. They are exempt from petrol and diesel increases, obviously, but there needs to be a more targeted approach. One third of the money that is set aside

context that the housing plan will be developed. We have already taken significant measures. We are not waiting for the housing plan to start taking the measures we need to take. We have already agreed to preserve the existing planning permissions for properties that may be about expire … have established housing activation offices and increased the powers of the LDA. In the autumn, we will have a clear suite of planning exemptions to free up the time of our planners. We have also established An Coimisiún Pleanála. This week, there was further agreement to minimise

infrastructure projects. The Planning and Development Act 2024 is a major reform that will speed up housing delivery. Local authorities are updating their development plans to ensure that sufficient and suitable land is zoned. Progress is being made in this regard but has to continue. We have also … reduced the VAT rate on apartments from 13.5% to 9% to improve the viability of apartment building, and we introduced a corporation tax exemption for cost-rental income to support delivery and increase viability of cost rental units. We are continuing to make real and tangible progress with

down the length and breadth of this country. They will help our planning authorities by giving clear direction with regard to subdivision, exemptions, modular homes, and the subdivision of properties into houses and apartments. That is all to be welcomed. I hope that initiative of the Minister … every village and town of derelict, defunct buildings that are lying there for years and years. People were afraid of the planning system. Developers and investors were afraid of it. The Minister of State's initiative will give surety to the planners and people who might

local authorities, but which is not residential property. The RZLT aims to prompt residential development by incentivising landowners to activate existing planning permissions, or to engage with planning authorities to seek planning permission in respect of relevant land. Revenue has advised that as of 14 November the receipts … first charged on 1 February 2025. Information in respect of the amount of RZLT declared, the number of exemptions claimed, and the total hectares returned, including and excluding exempt land, is published within the October 2025 property taxes report available on the Revenue website: www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/property-taxes/yearly-stats/2025/index.aspx. It shows

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

reduction on the sale of new apartments and introducing greater flexibility to the size and mix of apartment developments through the ongoing development of new design standards for apartments. It involves the new rent framework which will help to boost investment in the supply of homes for rent … potential to result in significant cost savings in the range of €88,000 to €160,000 per apartment. Last July, reforms to planning exemptions regulations took effect, giving homeowners the freedom to adapt their homes to changing needs and make decisions in relation to their own living space

Minister of State on that matter to date, particularly regarding backyard dwellings or the equivalent of the 40 sq. m extension planning exemption. We need to go beyond that and allow a wider scale. I am not saying it is the entire solution; it is part … town. It is a serviced site owned by the county council. For many years, the council has failed to get someone in to develop the site. It is ready to go and be built on. Companies around the country produce these modular units. I see the site

commencement of legislation on 30 September 2024 which removes the legal exemption of childminders from registration and ensures parents who use Tusla-registered childminders are eligible for subsidies under the national childcare scheme. The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension … registration to childminders. A key objective of the national action plan for childminding is to enable parents who use childminders to benefit from State subsidies through the national childcare scheme. Childminding-specific regulations were initially developed by a regulation and inspection advisory group, whose stakeholder membership included childminders

raised by a number of Members relates to workforce plans and ensuring that we have sufficient planning staff within our local authority system. It is important to note that under the ministerial action plan on planning resources, 244 planning staff have been approved over the past number … staff within our local authority system and within our planning system overall. However, what I am trying to do as Minister of State is remove red tape from the planning system by introducing the likes of exemptions, and I know that provisions for modular housing were mentioned

embraced a muscular interventionist policy through the inflation reduction Act. The European Union has responded with a green deal industrial plan and revisions to the general block exemption regulation. International competition for investment, talent and technological leadership is intensifying. Against this backdrop, it is right that we examine … this Bill is the creation of a new environmental protection aid grant category. On the face of it, this is a positive development. The Industrial Development Act 1986 does not provide a dedicated mechanism for environmental grants, forcing agencies to shoehorn decarbonisation projects into categories designed for employment