332. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the implementation of Part 3, Chapter 5, Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, which requires that local authorities prepare a strategy for allotments and community gardens in their area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31620/26]

Part 3, Chapter 5 ‘Development Plans’ of the Planning and Development Act 2024 commenced on 31st December 2025. When preparing a new development plan under the Act of 2024, planning authorities will be required to prepare a strategy relating to creation, improvement and preservation of sustainable places and communities within their development plans. This includes the reservation of land for use and cultivation as allotments and prescribed community gardens and the regulation, promotion, facilitation or control of the provision of land for that use. All development plans that are currently in place were made under the Planning and Development Act 2000 and planning authorities will, in due course, commence the preparation of new 10 year development plans under the Act of 2024.

The provision and form of public open space is further addressed the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines, issued as Ministerial Guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act (as amended) in January 2024. The Guidelines state that all statutory development plans should include a strategy for the provision of an integrated hierarchy of multifunctional public open spaces and corridors across the plan area that meet the needs of the planned population.

The Guidelines state that public open spaces should be designed to cater for a range of active and passive recreational needs (including play, physical activity, active travel, cultural uses and community gardens and allotments, as appropriate to the context) and to conserve and restore nature and biodiversity. The Guidelines further provide that statutory development include an objective(s) relating to the provision of public open space in new residential developments with a requirement in the development plan for public open space provision of not less than a minimum of 10% of net site area and not more than a minimum of 15% of net site area save in exceptional circumstances.

These instruments enable local authorities to identify locations in development plans for allotment development, and to establish allotments as a part of local government’s role in promoting the interests of local communities.

Further guidance for local authorities on the provision of allotments and community gardens will be progressed in due course, having regard to the priorities, work programme and commitments of my Department.