Our Real Estate team have prepared a summary on the latest from An Coimisiún Pleanála replacing An Board Pleanála, the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025 and The Land Development Agency.

An Coimisiún Pleanála (Formerly An Bord Pleanála)

From today An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) replaces An Board Pleanála (ABP) as the national planning body. Central to ACP’s organisational structure are three pillars being

  • The Governing Board: dealing with performance and governance.
  • The Planning Commissioners or the Coimisinéirí Pleanála: in charge of decision-making over applications, referrals, appeals and requests.
  • The Corporate Structure: concerned with the technical and organisational functions of ACP to support core decision marking roles.

Focusing on organisational improvements these developments are aimed at modernising the Irish planning body where each pillar has defined roles and responsibilities.

Going forward, references in any enactment, legal proceedings or documents to ABP shall now be construed as references to ACP.  

ACP’s establishment comes on foot of the signing of the Commencement Order for Part 17 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 with further changes expected in the coming months to reform and modernise the planning system.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has said that in the interim, all planning processes, decisions and appeals will continue under the Planning and Development Act 2000 until such time as the remaining Parts of the Act of 2024 are brought into effect.

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025 (The“RTA bill”)

Following on from the Government’s announcement last week of the raft of measures designed to increase investment and rental supply in the residential sector for all new tenancies commencing on or after 1st March 2026, yesterday the RTA Bill was approved for publication.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has said that the RTA Bill provides for:

  • A two-month extension, until 28th February 2026, to the operation of existing Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ); and
  • The deeming of non-RPZ’s to be RPZ’s from the day after enactment until 28th February 2026.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has called for the urgent enactment of the RTA Bill to provide the necessary protection for all tenants until 28th February 2026.

If enacted the RTA Bill would introduce the changes proposed through the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 and the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019.

To access the RTA Bill see: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025

The Land Development Agency (LDA)

Following the conclusion of the Cabinet Committee on Housing the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage yesterday announced an “ambitious expansion” to the State’s affordable housing delivery body, the LDA. This is aimed at supporting the delivery of housing across the Country.

The six key changes to be advanced for the LDA are:

  • to develop its’ land bank and to deliver private housing in suitable sites.
  • to unlock public lands for urban brownfield delivery with investment in infrastructure.
  • to revise the LDA Act in terms of the transfer of lands from commercial state bodies to expedite the development of appropriate sites.
  • to engage with the Department of Finance on tax treatment of LDA cost rental activity.
  • to expand the regional area of its’ operation.
  • to support local authorities, the Housing Activation Office and the Department in master planning and infrastructure provision in new towns and districts.

Established in September 2018 the LDA is currently driving projects for thousands of affordable, social and private homes across the County including consultations on projects in Galway, Kildare, Limerick and Dublin.

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