Dan Neville
Question:130 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress, if any, made on the introduction of the recommendations of the national task force on suicide. [18448/99]
Vol. 508 No. 2
130 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress, if any, made on the introduction of the recommendations of the national task force on suicide. [18448/99]
Three of the recommendations made by the task force are of particular relevance to my Department. The first of these is that "planning authorities, in so far as is possible, shall endeavour to avoid possible overcrowding of accommodation in the planning, designing and location of residential accommodation". The recently published social housing design guidelines set out comprehensive advice for the design of high quality social housing, including guidance on accommodation for different household categories. The recently published planning guidelines on residential density promote increased densities in appropriate locations in the interest of sustainable development. The guidelines emphasise that the overriding concern should be the quality of the proposed residential environment and higher densities should only be permitted where all the criteria which contribute to this environment are satisfied. Planning authorities are advised to consider the preparation of design guides illustrating good examples of residential layouts at increased densities, appropriate to local circumstances.