Bernard Allen
Question:161 Mr. Allen 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. [17518/02]
Written Answers. - Departmental Correspondence.
Bernard Allen
Question:165 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his 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. [17522/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 165 together.
Under planning legislation, each planning authority is obliged to prepare a development plan setting out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. Such plans would include the policy of the authority in relation to the provision of single houses in rural areas. Decisions on individual applications are also a matter for each individual authority in accordance with its development plan or An Bord Pleanála in the case of an appeal.
I have not had any discussions with An Taisce in relation to single houses in rural areas. However, my Department did receive a submission from An Taisce arising from the consultation process undertaken during the preparation of the national spatial strategy on the emerging indications as to how more balanced regional development might be achieved in Ireland. The An Taisce submission included comments on development in the countryside including the issue of one-off housing. All of the responses received during the consultation process have been carefully considered within the process of finalising the national spatial strategy.
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 living 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 of these issues will be further considered in the context of the national spatial strategy, which is 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.
The White Paper on Rural Development commits the Government to ensuring the economic and social well-being of rural communities and to providing for vibrant sustainable communities with the range of age, income and occupational groups to enable people living in these areas to enjoy a standard of living which will make them attractive communities in which to live and work. The Government is committed to ensuring that the maximum number of family farms will be retained. This policy is supported by local authority development plans. Such plans should seek to generate economic well-being, enhanced quality of life and vibrant communities; recognise that the sustainable development of a county must also have regard to the fact that many rural settlements act as service centres for an established rural hinterland with an existing community that must be catered for and promote residential development in specific rural areas, where population decline is evident, by re-inforcing weaker settlement structures.
The national spatial strategy will provide a framework to guide future planning and development activity throughout Ireland, including investment in infrastructure, enterprise and the location of residential and other types of development. Part of the challenge of the strategy will be the need to address the issue of maintaining the vibrancy of rural areas, but doing this on a sustainable basis. The future role of our villages and smaller towns is likely to be of particular importance in this context.