Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2017
148. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the changes to the Part V regime made in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 to have a significant effect on the number of social housing units that are being acquired by local authorities under Part V (details supplied). [12691/17]
View answerThe Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 made a number of amendments to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, following the outcome of an independent review, which included a consultation process. The amendments, effective from 1 September 2015, sought to maximise the contribution Part V can make to social housing supply and sustainable mixed-tenure communities across the country.
It should be noted that Part V applies only to developments of 10 or more houses, and therefore does not apply to one-off houses or schemes of 9 or fewer houses. It should also be noted that the provision of land rather than houses remains the default position if the developer wishes to exercise that option. In addition, some developments completed in 2016 may have been subject to older Part V agreements made before 1 September 2015, when other options - such as a financial contribution, the provision of fully or partially serviced sites or the provision of land elsewhere in the functional area of the planning authority - were available.
It is anticipated that over the lifetime of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, at least 4,700 new social homes will be delivered through the Part V mechanism. My Department will keep the position under review, through closely monitoring the supply of housing generally and the options housing providers use for delivering on their Part V obligations.
