431. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the proposed national planning statement for the Gaeltacht to be published; whether it is intended to publish a draft for public consultation before it is finalised; how Gaeltacht communities and representative organisations will be consulted during its preparation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50899/26]

432. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to support the delivery of additional housing in Gaeltacht areas; whether his Department has assessed how the proposed changes to planning policy may affect the availability of housing for people wishing to live in their local Gaeltacht communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50900/26]

499. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the public consultation and engagement with the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage he intends to undertake with respect to the Sustainable Rural & Gaeltacht Housing DRAFT National Planning Policy. [51824/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 431, 432 and 499 together.

The Government agreed a proposed policy direction for rural and Gaeltacht housing on 30 June 2026. This means that the Draft National Planning Statement (NPS) on Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing, prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under Section 25 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, can now move to environmental assessment under relevant EU Directives, prior to its approval by Government.

The new draft Statement refines and updates the existing 2005 Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines to reflect the Planning and Development Act 2024 and the established policy in the Revised National Planning Framework (NPF), which is to facilitate new rural housing for those with a local rural housing need, balanced with preventing urban generated sprawl in rural areas under urban development pressures, protecting and promoting the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Gaeltacht, and the regeneration of rural towns and villages.

The proposed new policy approach seeks to provide more clarity and consistency across the various planning authorities by defining the relevant planning and local needs criteria to be applied in local development plans and in the consideration of planning applications for single rural housing in rural and Gaeltacht areas.

The draft NPS will now be assessed for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the EU SEA and Birds and Habitats Directives, including any necessary associated consultation, in advance of the planned publication of a final National Planning Statement following Government approval, before the end of 2026.

Under Section 25 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, draft National Planning Statements are subject to approval by Government prior to issue by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Until they are replaced by any final National Planning Statement, the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2005 remain in effect.

Additionally, with regard to the development of new housing in Gaeltacht areas, the Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities published in July 2022 already give guidance to local authorities in relation to the preparation of housing strategies that have particular regard to the needs of Gaeltacht residents. This guidance reflects the 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas (Limistéar Pleanála Teanga), which are a separate designation under the Gaeltacht Act 2012 for which my colleague the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht holds functional responsibility.

My Department and I regularly engage with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht on housing and the necessary infrastructure to support increased housing delivery and housing choice across the country, including in rural and Gaeltacht communities. As set out in the ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities’ Housing Action Plan, this includes significant investment in the provision of social homes coupled with addressing vacancy and dereliction through the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and a number of significant investment schemes that are now aligned to advance the Government’s Town Centre First policy approach.

My Department will also continue to work with Uisce Éireann and local authorities to address water and wastewater infrastructure deficits that are constraining new housing growth, including through the group water schemes, private well grants and Domestic Wastewater Treatment System Grant schemes and new Developer Led Wastewater Infrastructure (DLI) Initiative, to support vibrant rural towns and villages including in Gaeltacht areas.