499. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legislative or planning reforms under consideration to facilitate higher density housing, including apartments and duplexes, in existing urban areas, particularly in Dublin; the current status of any such proposals; the expected timeline for their introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32044/26]

National Strategic Objective No. 1 of the National Planning Framework (NPF), which was first published in 2018 and revised in 2025, is ‘Compact Growth’.  The NPF has, since 2018, included policies and objectives relating to ‘compact growth’, setting out the need to promote a more compact and sustainable approach to development patterns to counteract decades of sprawl.

In support of the NPF objectives the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities, “the Settlement Guidelines”, were issued as Ministerial Guidelines in January 2024, under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).  The Settlement Guidelines expand on higher-level policies of the NPF, setting policy and guidance in relation to the growth priorities for settlements, residential density, urban design and placemaking and development standards for housing.  This includes delivering brownfield and infill development at suitable locations.

The SRDCSGs states that to achieve compact growth, it will also be necessary to increase the scale of new buildings in all parts of our cities and towns, with highest densities at the most central and accessible urban locations, particularly in city centres and close to public transport nodes and interchanges.  The Settlement Guidelines contain graduated density ranges that respond to settlement sizes (e.g. cities, towns and villages).  The Settlement Guidelines also provide for densities to be further refined with regard to centrality and accessibly to services, public transport and site-specific considerations regarding character, amenity and the natural environment.  This approach provides planning authorities with a degree of flexibility so they can operate a plan-led approach and take the circumstances of a plan area or an individual site into account as part of the decision-making processes prescribed under the Planning and Development Acts.

The Settlement Guidelines are one of a number of Section 28 Ministerial Guidelines that are concerned with sustainable forms of residential development and compact growth.  Other Guidelines include the Urban Development and Building Height Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2018) and the Planning Design Standards for Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2025) “the Apartment Guidelines”.

The Building Height Guidelines expand on higher-level policies of the National Planning Framework to encourage compact growth through increased building heights in urban areas.  The Building Height Guidelines set out strategic policy considerations and performance criteria for determining appropriate locations for taller buildings.

The Apartment Guidelines set out technical standards relating to apartment development and apply where the principle of apartment development has been established in connection with other Guidelines, and the relevant development plan.  The overall purpose of the Guidelines is to reduce costs and strike an effective regulatory balance, ensuring that apartment development meets the needs of society in terms of standards and quality, while promoting an increased level of output overall.

Under the provisions of Section 28 of Act of 2000 Planning Authorities are required to have regard to Ministerial Guidelines in performing their functions and to apply any Specific Planning Policy Requirements contained within the Guidelines.  Following the commencement Part 3, Chapter 3 (National Planning Statements) of the Planning and Development Act 2024, on 2 October 2025, Section 28 of the Act of 2000 has been repealed.  National Planning Statements will, over time, replace Ministerial guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).  Until such time Ministerial Guidelines are revoked or replaced, they will continue to have effect under Section 27 of the Act of 2024.

The Planning Design Standards for Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2025 “the Guidelines” were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).  Section 28 of the Act provides that planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the performance of their functions. Where the Guidelines contain specific planning policy requirements (SPPRs), planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála are required to comply with these requirements in the performance of their functions.

The revised National Planning Framework (NPF) sets out the need to plan for approximately 50,000 additional households per annum to 2040, and reaffirms the Government’s commitment to sustainable development and compact growth.  This will require a substantial increase in housing output of all types, and need a renewed focus on the delivery of apartments, particularly in central urban areas and in locations accessible to high quality public transport services.