Vol. 492 No. 3
25 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the total amount of land held by the local authorities and available for housing purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13848/98]
The results of a survey carried out by my Department in 1997 indicated, on the basis of information supplied by local authorities, that they held approximately 3,400 acres of zoned serviced land available for residential purposes. Some authorities, however, have a relatively greater supply of land than others. Indeed, a local authority may have sufficient land in the aggregate but may be short of land at a location where there is a particular need. It is primarily a matter for each local authority to ensure that they have sufficient land for their ongoing housing programmes.
The report of the Strategic Review Committee on the Construction Industry Building Our Future Together — June, 1997 — recommended, inter alia, that all local authorities should compile and publish data on serviced land in both public and private ownership in their areas. This recommendation is to be implemented annually from 1998 and my Department will be writing to local authorities in the matter.
