Government calls on local authorities to 'move with urgency' to rezone land for housing

According to the National Planning Framework, 50% of development will be targeted within Ireland’s five cities — Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford — while the remaining 50% will be in villages, towns and rural areas across the country.

Local authorities must reopen their development plans and complete rezoning of land for housing before the end of the year, the housing minister has said.

James Browne confirmed he would seek councils to expand the amount of land available for housing, as the Government attempts to hit formally approved housing targets of an average of 50,500 per year.