Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 4

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

37 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the recent suggestion made by the general secretary of ICTU that local authorities should be given powers to allow them to buy, at agricultural prices, land zoned for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18649/00]

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

Local authorities have extensive powers to acquire land compulsorily, as well as by agreement, for the purposes of any of their functions. The compensation to be paid is based on the rules set out in the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, as amended by the 1963 Planning Act. The value set on the land is essentially market value.

With regard to the suggestion that local authorities should acquire agricultural land for housing at agricultural value in order to address the current housing supply problem, the present situation is that where local authorities believe that they can assist the housing supply issue by acquir ing land, then they should avail of all their powers to do so. However, if the land is intended to increase supply in the short term, it should be serviced or easily serviceable and should fit in the authority's policies in the development plan on the location of new housing.

Part V of the Planning and Development Bill, 1999, which last week passed all Stages in the Oireachtas, is designed to ensure that there will be no shortage of building land by providing that sufficient land is zoned to meet the housing needs of the area and making up to 20% of residential zoned land available to local authorities at existing use value for the purposes of social and affordable housing. The specific amount required to be reserved will depend on the needs identified in the housing strategy which local authorities will now be required to make.

This Part was drafted following extensive legal consultation including advice of senior counsel and I am satisfied that this approach will make land available to local authorities at low cost while not interfering unfairly or in an arbitrary manner with the property rights of the land owner.