Developers would be able to seek extensions to planning permissions in cases where building work has been delayed by judicial review proceedings under plans for emergency legislation set to be considered by Cabinet.
The intention is for the legislation to be completed prior to the Dáil summer recess and there is a hope within Government that it could help to get thousands of units built.
The measure is a bid to activate developments such as large-scale apartments which might otherwise go beyond their permission timeline after being held up as a result of judicial reviews sought by opponents of the planned developments.
The proposals are being put forward by Minister for Housing James Browne and Minister of State with responsibility for planning John Cummins.
Renters forking out €2,000 per month are paying the price for water charges debacle
Hitting target of 41,000 homes to be built this year will be ‘challenging’, Minister for Housing admits
Holiday homeowners underestimate at their peril the anger among those locked out of the housing market
Water utility warns on reforms needed for housing targets: ‘The scale of the task is immense’
The plan is for a provision in the new Planning and Development Act 2024 to be brought forward, so that holders of all permissions that have been through a judicial review can apply to the planning authority for a retrospective suspension of the period of time their permission was held up.
At present, the clock does not stop when the permission is subject to a judicial review, which in some cases can take years.
A second provision is to allow developers with just two years left on their permission to apply for an extension for up to three years.
The Irish Times understands this is being proposed in recognition of challenging circumstances impacting some developments in recent years, including high inflation and issues with access to finance.
In these circumstances, in order to activate the development, the application for an extension must be made within six months of the legislation commencing and development must commence within 18 months of the commencement of the legislation.
The Government has been under pressure to bring forward new initiatives aimed at easing the housing crisis.
On Monday, left-wing Opposition parties announced plans for a major “Raise the Roof” housing protest outside Leinster House to coincide with the tabling of a joint motion on the housing crisis next month.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy called for “a massive show of people power” saying: “We need to declare a housing emergency”.
Separately, Tánaiste Simon Harris will seek Cabinet approval to draft legislation prohibiting the importation of goods from illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He is expected to outline that there is growing support for Irish positions at an EU level when it comes to economic ties with Israel, and that the Government intends to build support at a European level while advancing domestic legislation as well.
Mr Harris will also bring an update to Cabinet on the latest trade developments – warning Ministers there is “no time to lose” to achieve a new trade deal with the United States that safeguards European and US interests. Now halfway through the original 90-day pause on US tariffs that the White House has said it will impose, Mr Harris will ask for approval to draft legislation approving a trade deal with Canada, telling Cabinet it is an important part of Ireland’s strategy to find new markets.
He will also seek approval to extend the Defence Forces’ UN mission in Lebanon for another year, in which 345 personnel are now serving.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will update Cabinet on actions she has taken relating to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), as the provider of paediatric hospital services is rocked by multiple controversies.
Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler will update colleagues on plans to extend the period during which a person can be involuntarily detained without a court order from 21 days, as was originally envisaged in legislation published last year, to 41 days if they are a risk to themselves or others, or need treatment. This is part of more than 200 amendments to the forthcoming Mental Health Bill.
Minister for Children and Disability Norma Foley is to bring a memo on the implementation of the European Accessibility Act from June 28th, 2025 onwards. The Act is designed to ensure that designated products and services - including computers, bank ATMs, and e-ticketing - are accessible for people with disabilities.
Compliance will be enforced here by a range of existing State regulators who will be responsible for dealing with any complaints from people who feel their rights to accessible products and services have been breached.
Cabinet will be updated on the Department of Agriculture‘s plans to treat “exotic diseases” in animals, such as foot-and-mouth and bluetongue.
Minister for Higher and Further Education Patrick O’Donovan will also bring a memo on the formation of a new advisory committee on commemorations.
There is also to be an update on the Safe Routes to School Programme.
Cabinet will hear that evaluations of the scheme show an increase in walking, cycling and park-and-ride and there has been a particular focus on reducing speed and improving driver behaviour around rural schools in the scheme.
Minister for Higher Education James Lawless will also bring plans for the launch of Springboard+ 2025, the latest iteration of the free training scheme for the unemployed which has subsidised courses for people in work who want to reskill.
