Ministers Browne and Cummins publish Implementation Plan for the Planning and Development Act 2024
- Foilsithe: 4 Márta 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne today updated Cabinet on his department’s comprehensive Implementation Plan for the Planning and Development Act 2024.
One of the largest pieces of legislation in the history of the State, the Planning and Development Act 2024 will enhance clarity, improve consistency and ultimately increase confidence in our planning system.
The commencement of the Act is a key priority for Government and it will be commenced on a phased basis to facilitate the transition from the arrangements under the current Act to those under the new Act.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, welcoming the Implementation Plan said:
“The Planning and Development Act 2024 will have a significant impact on our planning system and will create an improved environment to deliver more homes. To date the government has contributed significant resources and funding to significantly boost housing output. However, the government can only directly deliver so much. If we are to accelerate homebuilding to the levels we need, we need to create the right conditions for the private sector to ramp up delivery. We need to build houses but also create the foundations for others to build homes as well. The significant changes in this planning legislation will contribute to creating the right environment to provide the additional homes we need."
Speaking today, Minister of State with responsibility for planning, John Cummins added:
"This legislation is a vital part of this government's approach to boosting construction and delivering more homes. We are taking a phased approach to its implementation due to the size and complexity of the changes involved.
“Great care will be taken to ensure a smooth transition to the new legislation with the least amount of disruption possible to the planning system. These are very significant reforms and it is vital that we ensure this implementation plan delivers for all stakeholders.
“We are committed to a dynamic approach to introducing this legislation. We will actually bring forward the commencement of some elements ahead of schedule where we can – ensuring that the sector and those who engage with our planning system are prepared for their introduction."
The first phase of commencements will see the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála to replace An Bord Pleanála. An Coimisiún Pleanála will have a revised organisational structure overseen by a new Governing Board and a Chief Executive Officer. This will be achieved by early Quarter 2.
The majority of the remaining Parts will be commenced over the rest of 2025, with a particular focus on the provisions relating to the National Planning Framework and development plans as well as those relating to planning consents including the introduction of mandatory timelines for An Coimisiún Pleanála.
The commencement of the Act is a complex task and it is important throughout this reform process that the planning system operates with minimal disruption while continuing to demonstrate improved performance, given the ongoing need to facilitate the delivery of strategic infrastructure and housing. Therefore, the existing provisions in the current Act will remain in place until the relevant provisions in the new Act of 2024 are commenced.
As set out in the Implementation Plan, there will be ongoing engagement with key stakeholders to ensure their awareness and readiness throughout the implementation process. It will be necessary to ensure that there is appropriate training and guidance for all stakeholders, as the provisions are introduced.
A copy of the Implementation Plan can be accessed at: www.gov.ie/planning.
Notes
Planning and Development Act 2024
The Planning and Development Act 2024 is the culmination of a comprehensive legal review of the Planning and Development Act 2000, led by the Office of the Attorney General, which was initiated by Government in July 2021. Since then, every aspect of the planning legislation has been reviewed with a view to improving clarity, consistency and confidence throughout the Irish planning system.
The Planning and Development Act 2024 introduces a number of key reforms:
- the introduction of statutory timelines for all consenting processes, to give confidence and certainty to applicants
- a significant reorganisation of An Bord Pleanála, to be known as An Coimisiún Pleanála
- greater mandatory alignment of all tiers of planning, improving consistency
- improvements to the planning judicial review processes
- clearer, more consistent policies and guidance
- longer term, more strategic, ten year plans for Local Authorities
- more agile local implementation, through the introduction of Urban and Priority Area Plans, including new bespoke plans for Gaeltacht and Island communities
- creation of Urban Development Zones, which will facilitate a more plan-led approach to development, increasing certainty at the master-planning stage
- provisions to deter abuse of planning processes through spurious planning submissions and appeals, as well as a ban on requesting payment for not opposing development
- ability to suspend the duration of a permission while subject to judicial review proceedings, so as not to lose any time available for completing the development
Planning and Development Act 2024
Commencement of Act
Certain provisions of the Act of 2024 have already been commenced:
- Part 25 came into effect on enactment providing miscellaneous amendments to the Residential Tenancies Acts
- Sections 1 – 5 & Part 26 (containing miscellaneous provisions relating to the NTMA and the LDA) were commenced on 2nd December 2024. Sections 1 – 5 do not have any operative effect of themselves but are solely interpretive in nature or otherwise operate to support the rest of the Act
As detailed in the Implementation Plan, it is envisaged that the commencement of the remainder of the Act of 2024 will be carried out across 4 phases – Blocks A, B, C & D:
Block A – establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála (Part 17), provisions relating the taking of Judicial Reviews (Part 9, Chapter 1 and 3) and Events and Funfairs (Part 16) as well as related provisions;
Block B – provisions relating to the National Planning Framework, National Planning Statements, Regional Spatial Economic Strategies (RSES) and Development plans (Part 3) and the OPR (Part 18) as well as associated provisions;
Block C – Development Consents (Part 4) and all associated Parts;
Block D – any remaining Parts.
The order in which the provisions of the Act of 2024 will be commenced is based largely on the structure of the Act itself and from discussions and engagement with the planning sector. As is often the case, the commencement of new legislation can be dependent on a number of internal and external factors such as the development of secondary legislation (some of which will require Oireachtas approval) and ensuring the planning sector is prepared for the upcoming changes, including the provision of training and development of guidance material. For these reasons, the commencement schedule is at all times subject to change.