Ciarán Cuffe
Question:87 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government his plans to undertake research comparing the socio-economic and environmental impact of urban and rural housing. [28474/03]
Written Answers. - Environmental Policy.
On behalf of my Department, the Economic and Social Research Institute has completed the Irish National Survey of Housing Quality 2001-2002 and this will be published shortly. The survey obtained detailed information from a representative sample of more than 40,000 householders on various issues such as key characteristics of households and dwellings, dwelling size and rooms available, services and utilities, affordability problems, repairs and upgrades, energy efficiency and overall quality.
Information on the numbers and types of housing units in urban and rural areas at the time of the 2002 census, together with an analysis of the housing stock by period of construction, changes in the occupancy status of dwellings, the numbers of private rented dwellings and the proportion of individual houses in rural areas are available in the principal socio-economic results of the 2002 census, volume 4.
My Department and its associated bodies commission research as necessary and appropriate on matters relating to the natural and built environment, proper planning and sustainable development of urban and rural areas and the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage. Some of these research projects have been completed, while others are ongoing. Relevant research includes the extensive analysis of the spatial structure and functioning of Ireland carried out in preparing the national spatial strategy; a study by the Environmental Protection Agency on sustainability and future settlement patterns in Ireland; studies by my Department to monitor the quality of sources for the abstraction of water for group water schemes; a pilot programme to assess innovative and cost effective ways of providing wastewater collection and treatment systems for small rural villages; a national pilot source protection scheme to devise workable and sustainable measures for preventing pollution of group water scheme sources; and a study by the Heritage Council of the relationship between housing and the protection of the natural and cultural heritage.
The findings from research such as that mentioned are taken into account in policy development on matters, for example, such as the national spatial strategy, groundwater protection as set out in a comprehensive circular issued by my Department and in the forthcoming guidelines on the implementation of Government policy in relation to rural housing. I anticipate that additional research will be commissioned as necessary to inform future policy development in relation to urban and rural settlement.