andMr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment if vehicular access is a requirement of the planning specification for all public and private housing schemes, either to the back door of the house or an external passageway from the front to the back of the house, to avoid having coal and similar dirty products delivered through the front door.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Scheme Planning Specifications.
7.
There are no mandatory specifications or standards in relation to the provision of rear access to dwellings. In granting planning permission for housing it is open to planning authorities to attach such conditions where they considered it necessary to achieve a proper standard of development. Similarly, there is no statutory requirement for such access in local authority housing schemes. It is a matter for each housing authority to decide whether it is desirable, taking into consideration the problems of security and/or vandalism that may arise to provide for separate rear access when planning new housing schemes.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I accept what the Minister has said in regard to private houses, but would he not suggest as a matter of planning policy that there should be access from the rear of these houses for the purpose stated? In regard to local authority houses does the Minister not agree that he has a control and would he ensure that in future schemes access through the rear of houses be made available for the purpose of taking in coal and other bulky or potentially dirty substances so that they would not have to be taken in through the hall door?
I appreciate the point the Deputy is making, but the experience in regard to local authorities to date has varied very much. There have been instances when local authority tenants have requested local authorities to close up rear entrances. It would seem a practical approach to provide rear entrances for the purposes which the Deputy has outlined but it has been left to local authorities to use their own judgment. I agree that the practical thing to do would be as suggested by the Deputy.