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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Nov 2002

Vol. 558 No. 3

Written Answers. - Housing Report.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

195 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to implement the recommendation of the 1973 Kenny report which could help greatly to make housing more affordable. [24101/02]

The then Government decided against implementing the central recommendation of the Kenny report, that local authorities should have power to designate and acquire land for development at existing use value plus a percentage of that value.

An Oireachtas joint committee subsequently examined this matter in 1988. It concluded that there would be constitutional and practical problems in implementing the Kenny recommendations, and that the issues would be better dealt with by other means.

Subsequent Governments and the legislature have sought to deal with land development issues through a range of measures, including taxation and improvement of planning mechanisms to permit greater levies on development and the application of community gain to social and affordable housing.

The most effective way of dealing with house prices is to increase housing supply. This has been the thrust of our approach, in particular through the measures set out in Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. Part V also seeks to obtain gain for the community from the increased land values arising from zoning through the requirement that up to 20% of residentially zoned land be made available to the local authority at existing use value rather than at market value. At present Part V is being reviewed to ensure that it is meeting its objectives in relation to the supply of social and affordable housing. I expect to announce the outcome of that review shortly.

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