State Bodies
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-22
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John Cummins (FG), Waterford

Everyone is entitled to bring whatever they wish into the Chamber. I hope I have provided Senator Boyhan with a clear update of the timelines and the progress that has been made. Of course, An Coimisiún Pleanála wants to continue to improve its digital services in order that all customers can interact with it in an appropriate manner.
I want to put on record my thanks to An Coimisiún Pleanála for the significant progress it has made in turning matters around since its establishment. We now have a situation where all large-scale residential development applications for developments of more than 100 units are disposed of within the statutory 16-week timeframe. This is completely transformational and is having a positive impact in terms of the delivery of housing throughout the country. It is also important to put on record the significant work that has gone into bringing the number of cases on hand down from a high of more than 3,600 a couple of years ago to approximately 1,300 last month. The goal is to get the number down to 1,200. It will never be zero, and we will always have applications in the system. However, the organisation is working to ensure that we have a modern, fit-for-purpose planning system that meets current needs and that addresses the deficits relating to the backlog of applications.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:32+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-22