The Government's housing plan to 2030, Housing for All,
committed to a review of the current planning system. Following
this review, led by the Office of the Attorney General, the Draft Planning and Development Bill
2022 (Draft Bill) was published.
The Draft Bill contains a number of significant changes to the
planning regime.
Among these changes is a re-branding of An Bord Pleanála
(ABP) to An Coimisiún Pleanála with
its decision-making and governing structures separated and a
strengthened legal status of Ministerial Guidelines.
Judicial Review
The Draft Bill also introduces a number of changes to the
Judicial Review (JR) process regarding planning
decisions.
A person wishing to challenge a decision of ABP may do so by JR
only. This is currently provided for under Sections 50, 50A and 50B
of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2022
(PDA).