On Sunday, the Government approved a request by Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy to extend by 23 days the statutory time period for processing planning applications under the Planning Acts. If an application was lodged prior to February 21st, the public participation phase is completed, and the relevant planning authority can make a decision within the extended deadline. However, if an application was lodged after February 21st and before March 29th, the decision cannot be made until after the 20th of April.
Furthermore, if the planning application is lodged after March 29th, it cannot be decided by the relevant planning authority until the five-week period for public consultation on the application commences, which will commence after April 20. Effectively the order applies to all applications lodged after the February 21, with decisions on these not be made until after April 20.
All public meetings associated with planning, or appeals are now officially deferred until the restrictions on the movement of the public are lifted. The changes also apply to appeals to An Bord Pleanála. The Department has also recommended to planning authorities that public meetings on all Plans be officially deferred for the period of the extension. This includes Development Plan, Development Plan Variations and Local Area Plan processes.
The emergency legislation was passed to safeguard the integrity of decision making, and to ensure the ongoing work and function of planning and development processes.
For more information on the detail of the measures see <HERE>, official guidance from the Dept of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
