Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires a local authority when considering whether to enter an agreement to purchase units in a development to consider the need to counteract undue segregation in housing between persons of different social backgrounds in the area of the authority.
The original Guidelines issued to local authorities in relation to Part V advised that the number and location of these houses should be such as to avoid undue social segregation and foster the development of integrated communities. While the pepper potting of social housing units could assist local authorities with achieving this objective, it can be the case with particular developments that pepper potting units would have significant management and financial implications. Therefore, the local authority will have to balance all of the factors on a case by case basis.