Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2004
203 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he has received confirmation from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in the matter of once off rural housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17066/04]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, on 4 March last, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, published the consultation draft of guidelines for planning authorities on sustainable rural housing. These draft guidelines are vitally important in providing clarity and consistency in the implementation by planning authorities of Government policy in relation to rural housing. They provide a more detailed framework for planners, based on what the national spatial strategy has to say on rural housing policy. The guidelines reflect exactly what I have been saying for the past number of years. As I said in my statement at the time, welcoming the publication of the draft guidelines, what is needed is rural housing within the confines of good planning practice. The consultation draft reflects my position on this issue and it reflects Government policy on the matter.
