1109. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider introducing a requirement for local authorities to work with developers of all new major housing developments to produce a comprehensive amenity plan as part of the planning process with a view to ensuring the timely delivery of cultural, recreational and sporting infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42983/26]

The local authority development plan is the principal planning policy tool for planning authorities to set out their objectives in relation to the planning and sustainable development of their functional area.

Part 3, Chapter 5 ‘Development Plans’ of the Planning and Development Act 2024 commenced on 31 December 2025. When preparing a new development plan under the Act of 2024, planning authorities are required to prepare a strategy relating to creation, improvement and preservation of sustainable places and communities. This includes objectives for ‘the provision, or the facilitation of the provision, improvement, extension and preservation of amenities, facilities and services to meet the social, community, recreational and cultural requirements of the functional area’. The plan-making process is subject to independent oversight by the Office of the Planning Regulator in the performance of its statutory plans evaluation and assessment function.

In 2022, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage issued the Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities as Ministerial Guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). These guidelines require that when making zoning decisions, consideration must be given to the future availability of community and amenity services including social, recreational and cultural spaces. Section 7.3 of these Guidelines states that every Development Plan should include an objective for a ‘Community, Social and Cultural Infrastructure Audit’ for areas that are likely to experience significant new development and should have a clear evidence-based rationale for future requirements “in order to maximise the social return and community benefit generated by public investment by state agencies and others.”

The Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines (2024), also issued as Ministerial Guidelines in January 2024, state that planning authorities should plan for an integrated network of open spaces that meet the needs of the planned population. Policy Objective 5.1 of these Guidelines states that statutory development plans include an objective(s) relating to the provision of public open space in new residential developments (and in mixed-use developments that include a residential element). The requirement in the development plan shall be 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 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).

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. Whilst Section 28 of the Act of 2000 has been repealed, all current Ministerial Guidelines continue to have effect under Section 27 of the Act of 2024 until such time as they are replaced by a National Planning Statement.

Facilities may also be funded by development contributions schemes made by elected members under section 48 of the Act of 2000, and conditions attached to permissions requiring contributions to be made towards such schemes, may also include open spaces, and recreational and community facilities. In accordance with section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001, local authorities are independent in the performance of their functions.

Responsibility for government policy on sport and culture lies with my colleague the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport. This includes the funding and function of Sport Ireland and Culture Ireland. Sport Ireland is a prescribed body for the purposes of plan-making in accordance with the Planning and Development (Prescribed Persons - Statutory Plans) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 458 of 2025). Culture Ireland works to build relationships and networks with arts and cultural organisations, relevant public bodies, state agencies and Government departments to advance Irish artists.