132. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress being made on the new National Planning Statement on Rural Housing; the measures being considered to ensure that young people and families with genuine local connections can build homes in their own communities; when the revised rural housing policy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48111/26]

151. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which his Department is ensuring that rural planning policy supports sustainable communities while also enabling appropriate housing development in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47609/26]

158. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reform rural housing planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46792/26]

163. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitments on rural housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48272/26]

190. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new planning rules accommodating those seeking to build on their own land will be implemented at local authority level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48297/26]

317. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the proposed new rural planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48302/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 132, 151, 158, 163, 190 and 317 together.

As set out in the Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 Action Plan, I intend to publish a finalised National Planning Statement in of the second half of 2026 that will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set in the National Planning Framework (NPF).

My Department is currently preparing a draft National Planning Statement under Section 25 of the Planning and Development Act of 2024 in order to provide consistency in the approach to rural housing across the Country.

The NPS will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework, in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 28 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, large towns and centres of employment), where the policy approach is to facilitate new rural housing for those with a local rural housing need, and wider rural areas where there is greater flexibility to build single rural housing. NPO 28 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of local social or economic need are to be applied by planning authorities in the assessment of development proposals for new one-off housing in rural areas under urban development pressures.

Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system and our obligations under European Directives and international agreements. Due care is being taken to ensure the draft Statement will not conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, will comply with EU environmental requirements and will have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice.

I intend to bring a draft NPS to Government in the coming weeks setting out a proposed policy direction, and thereafter the draft NPS will be subject to assessment for the purposes of compliance with relevant EU Directives, including any necessary associated consultation, before a final draft of the NPS will be brought to Government for approval to issue.

All existing section 28 Ministerial Guidelines, including the 2005 sustainable rural housing guidelines, continue to have effect until they are revoked or replaced by a corresponding National Planning Statement.