Planning Issues
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-11
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John Cummins (FG), Waterford

As the Senator will appreciate, there is a lot in this response and it will be circulated. I will get through as much of it as I possibly can.
The delivery of housing is a top priority for this Government. The Government's new housing action plan supports the delivery of the revised national planning framework projections, which set out the need to plan for approximately 50,000 additional homes per annum out to 2040. Fulfilling these commitments will require a substantial increase in housing output of all types, in particular apartments at central and accessible urban locations. On Tuesday, 9 June, a public consultation was opened on the draft national planning statement design standards for apartments 2026 and the associated SEA environmental report and non-technical summary.
The draft national planning statement, NPS, represents an important opportunity to review how apartment development can contribute to addressing Ireland’s housing needs while maintaining high standards of quality, sustainability and liveability. As housing demands continue to grow across our cities, towns and urban centres, apartments will play a significant role in delivering homes for a diverse range of households, and in particular at central and accessible urban locations.
The draft NPS sets out guidance, standards and policy requirements in relation to the design of apartment developments to take account of current Government policy and economic, social and environmental considerations. The draft NPS set out, for consistent application by all planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála, the particular design parameters that will apply to apartment development, where the principle of the development of apartments at any particular site has been established in accordance with the statutory plan and consideration of the policies, objectives and requirements of the sustainable residential development and compact settlement guidelines, issued as ministerial guidelines in 2024.
The draft NPS includes national planning policies and measures related to unit mix, internal space standards for different types of apartments, dual aspect ratios, floor to ceiling heights, apartments to stair or lift core ratios, communal, community and cultural facilities, shared accommodation and certain standards relating to student accommodation. The draft NPS also include guidance related to amenity spaces including balconies or patios, storage, security considerations, access and services, waste management facilities, children’s play areas, bicycle parking or storage and car parking. It also sets out the need to practically and flexibly apply the general requirements of the draft NPS in relation to refurbishment schemes, particularly in historic buildings, some urban townscapes and over-the-shop type or other existing building conversions.
The draft NPS is being prepared for the approval by the Government under section 25 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 to replace the design standards for apartments, guidelines for planning authorities issued in 2025 as ministerial guidelines under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
A strategic environmental assessment, SEA, is being undertaken on a precautionary basis and in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 2001/42/EC which is the strategic environmental assessment directive, and the European Union land use planning and strategic environmental assessment regulations 2025.
The draft NPS is accompanied by an SEA environmental report and non-technical summary, and a public consultation is being carried out in accordance with regulation 9 of the European Union land use planning and strategic environmental assessment regulations 2025 and section 26 of the Planning and Development Act 2024.
As the Senator will be aware, submissions or observations may be made in relation to the draft national planning statement and the associated precautionary SEA environmental report and non-technical summary until 5.30pm on 7 July 2026.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-11/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:03+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-11