1822. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline his Department's engagement on the recent draft rural and Gaeltacht planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61990/26]

The Government agreed a proposed policy direction for rural and Gaeltacht housing on 30 June 2026, enabling a proposed Draft National Planning Statement (NPS) on Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing to proceed to assessment for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA), including any necessary associated consultation, which is required to be undertaken prior to its final approval by Government.

The proposed new policy approach seeks to provide more clarity and consistency across the planning system, by setting out standardised criteria for assessing local rural housing need and new guidance on language criteria for housing in Gaeltacht areas, including the introduction of a standardised approach to language competency assessments to prioritise Irish speakers.

It is important to note that the proposed policy direction on sustainable rural and Gaeltacht housing was developed in collaboration with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG), as the Department with policy responsibility for the Gaeltacht. The development of specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas was also informed by the work of an Interdepartmental Group, comprising the DHLGH, the DRCDG and Údarás na Gaeltachta, and a Working Group made up of both Departments, Údarás na Gaeltacht and the relevant local authorities with Gaeltacht areas.

The proposed approach seeks to refine and update 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 Revised NPF also complements and builds on Government policies such as Our Rural Future 2021-2025 and Our Living Islands National Islands Policy 2023-2033.

The proposed new policy approach seeks to provide more clarity and consistency across the various planning authorities, by setting out how national policies on rural and Gaeltacht housing should be practically and consistently implemented by planning authorities in making and varying their development plans and in the operation of the development management system by planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála.

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.