Planning Authority Covid-19 Arrangements
Update from South Dublin County Council Regarding Planning Arrangements Under Current Circumstances
Office Closed to Public
South Dublin County Council confirms that, following the announcement by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D. on Friday, March 27 of new nationwide COVID-19 measures, all of its offices are now closed to the public with immediate effect and will remain closed until further notice. The Council is advising customers and citizens not to physically call to Council offices for any reason as they will not be able to gain access.
Submission of Planning Applications
In accordance with Circular PL02/2020 Planning and Development during the COVID 19 Emergency, issued by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on 29th March 2020, the Council will continue to accept planning applications by post. However, the Council cannot accept applications online or by courier delivery.
The application should be accompanied with a cheque for the correct fee. However, an applicant can also pay the fee by contacting the Council’s cash office, between 10am and 12am, on 01 4149121, to make an online payment and then attaching a note with the receipt number to the application.
Viewing a Planning Application
To view a planning application, please go to our website at www.sdcc.ie where you can access and view the planning applications which have been submitted. We will endeavour to add new applications and scanned documents of applications received after March 29th, 2020.
3rd Party Observations on Planning Applications
The Council can accept 3rd Party observations by post and email. The observation should be accompanied with a cheque for the statutory fee. However, this fee can also be paid by contacting the Council’s cash office, between 10am and 12am, on 01 4149121, to make an online payment and then attaching a note with the receipt number to the observation.
Pre-Planning Consultation Requests
Applications for pre-planning consultations can still be made to the Council, using the guidance available here. Application forms should be made to preplanning@sdublincoco.ie. The Council will schedule these consultations as soon as possible and will carry out consultations via conference calls (Microsoft Teams), phone and email only during the Covid 19 restrictions. The period for mandatory pre-planning may be extended by up to the duration of the Order i.e. 23 days.
Further Information Responses
The Council will continue to accept further information responses by post or by emailing planningdept@sdublincoco.ie. Unfortunately, the Council cannot accept these by courier delivery.
Compliance Submissions
Compliance submissions may be made to the Council by post or by email to planningdept@sdublincoco.ie. These will be acknowledged and processed in order, following the lifting of Covid 19 restrictions.
General Planning Enquiries
General planning enquiries may be made through the online customer care portal, by emailing: planningdept@sdublincoco.ie or by calling the customer service line on 01 4149000.
Decisions of Planning Applications
Section 251A of the Planning & Development Act 2000, as amended, is being implemented by South Dublin County Council in order to minimise the public health risks associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. In relation to the planning process, the effect of this legislation and the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Subsection (3) of Section 251A) Order is that the period from 29th March 2020 to 20th April 2020 inclusive (23 days), may be disregarded when calculating any specified statutory timelines in the Planning Acts and associated regulations. SDCC has staff working remotely and is continuing to assess planning applications as follows:
Planning Applications submitted up to and including Friday 21st February 2020
These applications have been subject to the required period for public consultation and can be decided. The period for deciding these applications may be extended by up to the duration of the Order i.e. 23 days.
South Dublin County Council will continue to assess planning applications that that are due for decision between the 29th March 2020 and 20th April 2020 (as may be further extended), if circumstances permit, but may extend the decision due dates in accordance with the Order.
Planning Applications submitted after Friday 21st February 2020
Any planning application that was submitted to the Council less than five weeks prior to the date of commencement of the Order, i.e. after Friday 21st February 2020, cannot be decided until after Monday 20th April 2020 (or as further extended). This is to ensure that the five-week period for public consultation is completed after the expiry of the duration of the Order. The effect of this is that the minimum period (5 weeks from receipt of application) for deciding any such applications, must be extended by the full duration of the Order.
Planning Applications Submitted on or after 29th March
Any planning application submitted to the Council after the date of commencement of the Order, cannot be decided until the five-week period for public consultation on the application has commenced and been completed. The five-week consultation period will only commence after the expiry of the Order (April 20th 2020) and a decision cannot be made prior to a minimum of five weeks from the expiry of the Order i.e. after Monday 25th May 2020.
Declarations on Exempted Development
The Council will continue to accept applications for Exempted Development Declarations by post. The period for deciding these applications may be extended by up to the duration of the Order i.e. 23 days.
Development Contributions and Bonds
Development Contribution and Bond enquiries may be made through the online customer care portal or by emailing planningdept@sdublincoco.ie or by calling the customer service line on 01 4149000.
To arrange payment by EFT please email your details to planningdept@sdublincoco.ie and contact will be made to arrange same. Or alternatively, if you wish to pay by credit card, please email your details to planningdept@sdublincoco.ie address and contact will be made.
Unauthorised Development /Enforcement
In relation to unauthorised development, please correspond by post or via email to planenforcement@sdcc.ie
Fire Certificates
The council will continue to accept Fire Safety Certificate applications by post and also by email at firecerts@sdublincoco.ie. Fees can be paid by cheque or EFT; details can be forwarded if requested. Courier applications cannot be accepted.
Disability Access Certificates
Queries relating to Disability Access Certificates should be made to planningdept@sdublincoco.ie
Part 8 – Local Authority Development
The Section 251A Order applies to Local Authority planning i.e. ‘Part 8’ processes. The Order has the effect of extending the public display, reporting or decision making periods of the local authority ‘Part 8’ process, as applicable, for the duration of the period of the Order, i.e. by a further three weeks and two days, or longer if further orders are made extending the Orders.
However, where the initial six-week consultation period has been completed on the date of commencement of the Order, a Chief Executive may submit a Report to, and engage with, the members of the local authority and a quorum of that local authority may determine whether to proceed with the project or otherwise. It is noted that the period for reporting by the Chief Executive and determination by the elected members of such a project may be extended by up to the full duration of the Order.