Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016
245. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will meet with representatives from the Irish Glass Bottle Housing Group that have been seeking a meeting with him regarding the potential for building significant quantities of social and affordable housing on that site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39743/16]
View answer246. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to meet with representatives of the Ringsend Glass Bottle Site Housing Action Group (details supplied) to discuss their plans for the old glass bottle site portion of the SDZ in Ringsend, Dublin; and if he will consider their proposals for maximising the provision of social and affordable housing in that location. [39771/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.
The Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) site has significant potential to deliver additional housing supply, including for social housing purposes, at a pace and scale that will greatly assist in addressing the current critical shortage of housing supply in the Dublin Region.
The Government Order, designating the Poolbeg West area as a Strategic Development Zone, with Dublin City Council as the relevant development agency, pursuant to the provisions of Section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), provides for, inter alia, the provision of social and affordable housing.
As is required under the SDZ process, a Planning Scheme must now be prepared and adopted by Dublin City Council for the planned development of these lands, including providing in excess of 2,000 – 2,500 new homes, which will include social and affordable housing, as well as supporting social, educational and recreational infrastructure.
As this process is about to be undertaken by Dublin City Council with full statutory consultation with the local community and other stakeholders, and having regard to the provisions of Section 30 of the Planning Act, which prevent the Minister from becoming involved in individual planning cases, it would not be appropriate at this stage of the process for me to engage with stakeholders outside of my statutory role in formally commenting on the draft Planning Scheme.
Nevertheless, I expect the site to provide for the delivery of residential and appropriate commercial development, with supporting infrastructure and facilities, in a timely, sustainable and co-ordinated manner. Moreover, I am confident that the draft Planning Scheme, to be considered fully by the members of Dublin City Council, will enable significant delivery of all housing types, including housing that is intrinsically affordable for the broad range of households likely to settle in the area, including low- and middle-income earners seeking properties to rent or buy.
I urge all interested stakeholders to engage with the Planning Scheme process within the statutory framework laid out in the Planning Act.
