COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 13, 2026

QUESTION NO. 3

QUESTION: Councillor L. de Courcy

To ask the Chief Executive how the new Rural Housing Guidelines will impact residents of rural areas within South Dublin who have not been able to build or extend their property on their own land, and when will the changes be adopted within SDCC?

REPLY:

On 30 June 2026, the Government announced that it had: "agreed a proposed policy direction for rural housing, meaning that the Draft Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing National Planning Statement, prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, can now move to environmental assessment under relevant EU Directives and associated public consultation, prior to its final approval by Government." The announcement also confirmed: "Under Section 25 of the 2024 Planning and Development Act, draft National Planning Statements are subject to approval by Government prior to issue by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Until they are replaced by any final National Planning Statement, the 'Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines for Planning Authorities', 2005 remain in effect."

The announcement and associated publication has no status in law or planning law or policy context. The current national and local planning policy context remains in effect until any forthcoming National Planning Statement is approved by Government in line with Section 25 of the Planning and Development Act, 2024. At that point, the planning authority will review the relevant NPS and consider the implications for local County Development Plan policy.