Eoghan Murphy, T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government confirmed today that the planning and building control systems remain open for business.
Measures being brought through the Dail today will only be activated if necessary and do not halt the planning system when passed. They are precautionary in nature and require a further Government decision before they can take effect.
Every effort is being made to ensure that these systems can continue to operate, taking account of public health advice.  Local authority public offices and the Offices of An Bord Pleanála remain open.
Many of the systems including the Building Control Management System can be accessed remotely over the local authority network, while in the case of planning, there are established systems in place that enable people to view planning applications and make submissions on-line in many planning authorities, which can be maximised.
To further ensure we have the necessary flexibility to adapt our planning and building systems during this emergency, some specific provisions are included in the Bill before Dáil Eireann today. These proposed provisions will provide powers to the Government, at the Minister’s request, to set a defined period during which statutory timelines under various Acts, will be extended.
Read full statement HERE.Â
We also advise that you to consult the websites of your local authority for the latest information on how they continue to provide their services to the public during the COVID-19 emergency.
