Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Request for the following records: 1. Any and all notes, documents and files that relate to a working group review which was established by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, comprising of representatives from the department and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) Land Use and Transport Service committee to examine a European Courts of Justice ruling, Las v PSA Antwerp NV. The working group was formed with the intention of ascertaining the implications of that ECJ ruling on Ireland’s planning policy nationally. The review was to review the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing to bring Irish planning law into line with EU law. That review is specifically mentioned here in a Dáil debate record by the then Minister of State for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 2. A circular letter dated the 31/05/2017 which was sent to all local authorities which related to the above working group. This circular advised that the local authorities should defer amending their rural housing policy / local need criteria presently contained in the County Development Plan until the report of the working group mentioned in part 1 is complete. 3. A copy of the report produced by the said working group into the impact of the ECJ ruling mentioned above on Irish planning policy, if such a report exists and all documentation, meeting minutes, memos etc. that refer to the work of this review group - be it ongoing or concluded.