Planning laws to be rushed through Dáil 'to help address housing crisis'

Law includes provision for social housing to be built without environmental assessment

The housing minister said the strain on housing supply had been exacerbated by the “demographic shock of the humanitarian disaster unfolding due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine” Picture: Denis Minihane.

The Government is planning to rush through planning legislation in order to amend the structure of An Bord Pleanála and to impose emergency social housing rules with a minimum of legislative scrutiny next week.

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien on Tuesday evening wrote to the leader of the Seanad Regina Doherty to request its “cooperation” in order to consider all stages of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 within the space of a week from next Monday.