1701. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider introducing legislation or regulations placing a positive obligation on developers to complete all promised amenities, including playgrounds, crèches and other community facilities, and requiring development works to pause until such amenities are at least 20% complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59862/26]

1719. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he agrees that the delivery of essential community infrastructure and amenities should be prioritised alongside large-scale housing developments to ensure the creation of sustainable communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60244/26]

1721. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department will examine the current level of community infrastructure and public amenities in Clongriffin and the surrounding area to determine whether it is sufficient to support further large-scale housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60249/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1701, 1719 and 1721 together.

Planning for the provision of infrastructure, amenities and services is a core element of the statutory plan-making process and is key to promoting the development of sustainable communities.

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). 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 (SPPRs) contained within the Guidelines.

The Settlement Guidelines state that new communities should be planned in accordance with the principles of the '15-minute city'. In this regard, planning authorities are encouraged to plan for an integrated network of well-designed neighbourhoods capable of meeting day-to-day needs, such as access to food, healthcare, education, sports and professional services, within a short walk of homes. The Guidelines also state that statutory development plans should include a strategy for the provision of an integrated hierarchy of multifunctional public open spaces and green corridors across the plan area to meet the needs of the planned population.

The local authority development plan is the principal statutory planning document for the implementation of the Settlement Guidelines. The development plan sets out the policies and objectives that guide the physical development of each city and county. Through the development plan process, planning authorities establish the relevant policy framework and objectives for future development, including the identification of suitable locations for particular forms of development. The making or variation of a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members of the planning authority.

Section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (under which all existing development plans were prepared) required planning authorities to include objectives in their development plan for the provision of infrastructure, and the integration of the planning and sustainable development of the area with the social, community and cultural requirements of the area and its population. The legislation further provides that objectives must be included for the preservation, improvement and extension of amenities and recreational amenities.

All future development plans will be made under Part 3, Chapter 5 (Development Plans) of the Planning and Development Act 2024, which was commenced on 31 December 2025. Sections 44 to 51 of the Act of 2024 require planning authorities to include various strategies and objectives in their development plans including in relation to the sustainable use of land, integrated transport, infrastructure, and the amenities, facilities and services required meet the social, recreational and cultural needs of the community.

In 2022, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage issued the Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities. 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 (page 84) 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.”

Further detail relating to the development of new communities and the provision of associated infrastructure, amenities and services may be set out at a more localised level through statutory plans including Planning Schemes, Local Area Plans (under the Act of 2000) or via Urban Area Plans, Priority Area Plans and Coordinated Area Plans (under the Act of 2024). As noted in the Settlement Guidelines, local plans set out how the objectives and policies contained in a development plan are to be applied within a particular area. In locations that are expected to experience significant growth, development or change, a local plan will typically address the nature and extent of development proposed, the overall design and layout of the area, and a phasing strategy for the delivery of the supporting infrastructure, amenities and services required to facilitate sustainable development.

Under section 213 of the 2000 Act, a local authority is empowered, for the purposes of performing any of its functions (including facilitating the implementation of its Development Plan), to acquire land, permanently or temporarily, by agreement or compulsorily. This includes the acquisition of sites for infrastructure and facilities.

Pursuant to Section 48 of the 2000 Act, a planning authority or An Coimisiún Pleanála may attach a condition to a grant of planning permission requiring the payment of a contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities that it is intended will be provided, by or on behalf of a local authority. This may include for open spaces, and recreational and community facilities or other forms of public infrastructure. The basis for such contributions is set out in a development contribution scheme as adopted by the elected members.

Pursuant to Section 34 of the Act of 2000, a planning authority or An Coimisiún Pleanála may attach conditions to a permission relating to the phasing of a development. Such conditions may stipulate that housing and community infrastructure be provided in tandem and sequenced over time, with specified elements of community infrastructure required as quantities of housing are delivered.

It should also be noted that Section 30 of the Act of 2000 precludes the Minister from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Coimisiún Pleanála is, or may be, concerned. Accordingly, where matters of planning enforcement arise, the exercise of these functions must remain independent and is a matter for the relevant planning authority and/or the courts to determine without interference.

My Department has also established a Housing Activation Office to coordinate and accelerate the delivery of infrastructure projects needed to enable housing development. The Office is actively engaged in identifying barriers to housing delivery and is coordinating with local authorities and infrastructure agencies to address these barriers.