Senator Alison Comyn has welcomed planning reforms introduced from December 2025, saying they will help local authorities plan more effectively and support the delivery of much needed housing.
The changes are being introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2024 and include longer ten year development plans, new area based planning structures, and stronger requirements on councils to assess current and future housing needs. This includes a focus on affordable and cost rental homes.
Senator Comyn said the reforms are designed to make the planning system work better at local level.
She said longer term development plans will provide greater certainty for communities and for those delivering housing, while still allowing flexibility where urgent action is required.
The Drogheda based Senator said the new requirement for local authorities to assess housing need is particularly important given ongoing pressures on housing supply.
She said good planning must be based on real housing demand and that the changes will help councils plan properly for population growth while ensuring affordable and cost rental homes form part of the overall solution.
Senator Comyn also welcomed the establishment of an Advisory Board for the Planning Regulator, which she said will support oversight and effective implementation of the reforms.
She paid tribute to Minister for Housing James Browne for his work on the legislation, saying he is committed to delivering real solutions to get houses built and that the planning reforms are a vital part of that effort.
She added that the changes strike a balance between supporting housing delivery, protecting rural communities, and maintaining high environmental and design standards.
She said the reforms are about building the homes people need while safeguarding the character and sustainability of towns, villages and the wider countryside.
