Planning and Development Act changes paused due to work-to-rule process

Some 24 parts of the act are yet to be enacted following directions to Fórsa members working in local authorities to 'withdraw all cooperation from any restructuring'

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said negotiations on a new public sector pay deal are 'often slow and arduous' and are 'not different on this occasion'.

Further enactment of the Government’s Planning and Development Act has been paused due to ongoing work-to-rule by council staff.

The act, passed into law in 2024, consolidated Ireland’s planning laws into a single piece of legislation.

It included the change of An Bord Pleanála into An Coimisiún Pleanála, as well as new mandatory timelines for planning decisions and reform of the judicial review process. 

It has been slowly enacted over the last two years, with 24 parts yet to be put into action.

The Department of Housing confirmed it is paused due to “circumstances beyond its control”. 

The ongoing work-to-rule process was initiated by unions, following the breakdown of talks on a new pay deal over the summer.

While strike action last Wednesday was suspended following a new round of talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), work-to-rule remains in place across the public sector.

In instructions to Fórsa members working in local authorities, union members are told to “withdraw all cooperation from any restructuring”, as well as to cease cooperation with any new work practices, changes to existing work practices, or new AI initiatives.

One Fórsa source suggested the progress of the legislation’s enactment was due to the instructions, while adding the work-to-rule process suspends flexibility and cooperation procedures within the public and civil service.

They added that the longer the work-to-rule action continues, the more likely it is to impact all aspects of work.

Maintaining momentum

In a circular issued earlier this month, the Department of housing said it is important that momentum built towards the enactment of the laws is maintained.

It said: “To that end, departmental officials will continue to engage with the planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála to maintain the current advanced state of readiness to enable commencement at the earliest possible opportunity.”

It said it would provide a new date for commencement “as soon as possible”.

Asked if it had sought a derogation for local council workers to continue enacting the legislation, the Local Government Management Agency said it “does not comment on ongoing industrial relations matters”.

Discussions on a new public sector pay deal remain ongoing, with talks taking place at the WRC last week.

In an update to Fórsa members, general secretary Kevin Callinan said that typically negotiations of this sort are “often slow and arduous”, adding: "It is no different on this occasion.

“We have clearly set out our objectives and are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for members. 

"However, at this stage I cannot say if a draft agreement will be possible.”

Mr Callinan said he believed the current talks process would end during the week.

“Whether it’s with or without an agreement remains to be seen,” he said.