Browne says judicial reviews are 'weaponised' amid fresh doubt on housing target
Housing Minister James Browne has said judicial reviews are being "weaponised" as he conceded that the Government will find it "very challenging" to hit its housing targets this year.
He also stated that tenure types, including apartments that are built to rent, will be examined as part of the National Planning Framework to ensure that there is a "right mix" of housing.
Cabinet approved plans on Tuesday from Minister Browne, alongside Minister of State John Cummins, to allow an extension of the duration of planning permissions for housing developments that are nearing the end of their duration period and have not yet commenced.
People must apply for an extension within six months of the legislation commencing and they must commence building within 18 months.
The Bill will also allow the duration of a Judicial Review period not to be counted as part of the time planning permission is active.
Mr Browne stated that he believed some people were lodging judicial reviews to ensure that some properties and developments would never be completed.
He said: "I do believe judicial reviews have been weaponised by some people with a view that simply if you delay a project long enough, the project will fall.
"That's not everybody. Judicial reviews are a legitimate part of our legal process. That's why, under the Planning Development Act, what we are doing is tightening up judicial reviews to ensure that only those who have a legitimate interest in a project can bring forward their objections to it.
"We do have a challenge in this country. In many other countries, once you do a county development plan, you have years of consultations and land is zoned for particular housing, usually actually it is quite an administrative process after that point.
"In Ireland, the process almost starts anew as people can bring a lot of challenges.
"I think the Planning and Development Act will really help to curtail the weaponising of judicial reviews."
The Government has set a housing target of 41,000 houses this year. It missed its target of 33,000 in 2024.
The Central Bank and the ESRI both told the Housing Committee on Tuesday that the Government was on track to miss targets in 2025 and 2026.
The ESRI suggested 34,000 homes would be built this year and 37,000 units in 2026.
Mr Browne stated that the Government would find it "very challenging" to hit its 41,000 target and conceded that most projections are around the 34,000 mark.
He continued: "It's very challenging, but I don't particularly like getting his predictions at this point in time.
"Certainly, I think the 41,000 is extremely challenging at this point in time.
"The ESRI are a very reputable body. I'm going to engage with the ESRI, with their report and see exactly how they're putting their numbers together.
"There's a number of different numbers out there right now, but they are all trending in around the ESRI's prediction at the moment."
Minister Browne stated that there are 40,000 uncommenced residential units on 265 wholly inactive development sites within Dublin.
When asked for a breakdown of how many of these were houses and apartments that can be bought and how many were "built to rent", Mr Browne said he could not provide this.
However, he said that he wants to see people have the option to buy apartments, and the new National Planning Framework will contain directions for local authorities on zoned land to ensure they have the "right mix" of tenure types.
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