Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing. – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Wednesday, 24 Mar 1999

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Question:
137 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will instruct local authorities in the Dublin area to materially contravene their development plan following the publication of the strategic planning guidelines for the region; the discussion to date with county managers in the Dublin area on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8542/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

Local authorities are statutorily prohibited from materially contravening their development plans and I have no power to instruct them to do so. Where they wish to grant a planning permission which would be a material contravention they must follow a specified procedure which includes public consultation and the adoption of a special resolution by the elected council. As the successful implementation of the strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area, which are being launched tomorrow, will require that the development plans of the relevant local authorities are fully in line with the guidelines, I will be asking the local authorities to take whatever steps are necessary in this regard.

Question:
138 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give a detailed assessment in each local authority area within the Dublin region of the number of housing units available during 1999 for residential development; the breakdown of the 64,226 housing units figure quoted in appendix 1 of a recent statement by him in response to the Bacon No. 2 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8543/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

In December 1998, my Department compiled an assessment of housing lands availability for the Dublin region based on information received from the seven planning authorities in the greater Dublin area. The 64,226 housing units figure, which represents housing lands availability in the greater Dublin area at end 1998 is derived from that assessment.

Housing Lands Availability at end 1998 in the Dublin region

(Number of Housing Units)

Planning Authority Area	Available Yield at end-1998
Dublin Corporation	12,131
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown	4,776
Fingal	11,608
South Dublin	11,348
Kildare	10,229
Wicklow	2,434
Meath	11,700
Total	64,226

The figures include permissions which are subject to identifiable constraints in infrastructural provision or other delaying factors which may mean that some of them may not become available immediately. The figures take account of the serviced land initiative, the beneficial impact of which will be substantially felt during 1999 and thereafter. Institutional lands, which are zoned for housing development, have only been included where there is a realistic expectation of development within the next five years.

The figures quoted above give the position at end 1998 but additional lands will become available for residential development in the period to end 2000, estimated at 35,738 housing units and thereafter in the period to end 2003, estimated at a further 39,189 housing units.

Dáil Éireann debate - Wednesday, 24 Mar 1999