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Legislation

Over four years ago, a fundamental review of the planning system was included in the Programme for Government. This review led to the enactment of the Planning & Development Act 2000. The Act is designed to introduce a sustainable development ethos into the Irish planning system, increase the efficiency of the system and ensure a strategic approach to land use planning in Ireland. In order to implement the provisions of the Act, a number of Planning Regulations have been reviewed and revised. The Planning & Development Regulations 2001 are designed to make the planning control system more user-friendly for local authorities, practitioners and members of the public so as to ensure:

1. Greater consistency across the planning system by introducing a new stricter validating process and standard forms
2. the planning system will be more efficient by placing the onus on the applicant to ensure that the requirements of the Regulations are complied with when making a planning application
3. the rights of third party observers and objectors are stated more clearly

In 2006 New Planning & Development Regulations [PDF, 866KB] were introduced to work in conjunction with the 2001 Planning & Development Regulations. The main legislation governing planning and sustainable development in Ireland is now contained in the following:

• Planning & Development Act 2000
• Planning & Development Regulations 2001
• Planning & Development (Amendment) Act 2002
• Planning & Development (Amendment) Regulations 2002
• Planning & Development (Certification of Fairground Equipment) Regulations 2003 (SI 449 of 2003)
• European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (SI 435 of 2004)
• Planning & Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 (SI 436 of 2004)

In addition to the above legalization, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has also issued a number of specific policy/guidance documents:

• Sustainable Rural Housing - Consultation Draft of Guidelines for Planning Authorities
• Planning Guidelines - Quarries and Ancillary Activities
• Draft Wind Energy Development Guidelines for Planning Authorities
• Planning Guidelines on Architectural Heritage Protection of Places of Public Worship

The full text of the Act, Regulations and Guidance Notes can be obtained from the website of the of the Department of Environment and Local Government at www.environ.ie or by Mail Order from the Government Publications Office, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. Telephone: Lo Call 1890 202021.