Telecommunications Infrastructure
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-27
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Kieran O'Donnell (FG), Limerick City

Once again, I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this Topical Issue matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. The Planning and Development Act 2024 was signed into law by the then President on 17 October 2024. The Department is putting arrangements in place to implement the phased commencement of the Act of 2024 to transition to new legislation across the planning system, taking account of the need to liaise with local authorities, planning bodies and other stakeholders. The existing provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 will remain in place until the relevant provisions of the Bill are commenced.
Section 254 of the Act of 2000 will be replaced by sections 13 and 14 of the Act of 2024 on commencement of those sections. Section 13(4B) of the Act of 2024 was added on Seanad Report Stage to include a regulation-making power for the Minister to prescribe certain classes of licence requests as requiring public notification. The amendment takes account of the input on Seanad Committee Stage in relation to a licence for telecommunications masts and ensures there is public notification process for such licence applications. Specifically, I will bring the further points Deputy McGrath raised to the attention of Department officials and the Minister, Deputy Browne.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-27/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:01+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-27