Jim Higgins
Question:18 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received correspondence from An Taisce regarding housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30548/01]
Written Answers. - Housing Policy.
Willie Penrose
Question:23 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his Department's policy on stand alone or single houses in rural areas; if he has had discussions with An Taisce in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30158/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:47 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if an amendment to the Planning and Development Act, 2000, is contemplated in view of evidence of organised objection to housing in rural Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the potential threat to the constitutional rights of rural dwellers this presents; if his attention has further been drawn to the distortion likely to be caused to the spatial strategy review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31156/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 23 and 47 together.
Under planning legislation, each planning authority is obliged to prepare a development plan setting out an overall strategy for the planning and development of its area. Such plans would include the policy of the authority in relation to the provision of one-off single houses. Decisions on individual applications are also a matter for each authority in accordance with its development plan or for An Bord Pleanála in the case of an appeal. I have no proposals for amendment of these legislative provisions.
As regards single houses in rural areas, it is essential that the farming community and those working on the land should be able to live in the country. However, a continuation of the current trends in one-off housing, particularly with regard to urban generated development, that is, development by those from and working in urban areas, will have significant implications in terms of a range of issues such as transport, the possibilities for strengthening many of our towns and villages, landscape and tourism and protection of ground and surface waters. All off these issues will be further considered in the context of the national spatial strategy now being finalised. The report "Sustainable Development – A Strategy for Ireland", published in 1997, indicated that in general there should be a presumption against urban-generated, one-off rural housing adjacent to towns.
I have not had discussions with An Taisce regarding housing in rural areas. My Department did receive a submission from An Taisce arising from the recent consultation process on the emerging indications as to how more balanced regional development might be achieved in Ireland. The submission from An Taisce included comments on development in the countryside including the issue of one-off housing. All of the responses received during this consultation process are being carefully considered, within the process now under way of further developing proposals for inclusion in the national spatial strategy itself.
As regards a possible organised campaign of objection to rural housing, all planning appellants are by law required to state the subject matter and full grounds of their appeal and the reasons, considerations and arguments on which these are based. An Bórd Pleanála has an absolute discretion to dismiss an appeal where it is of the opinion that the appeal is vexatious, frivolous or without substance or foundation.