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Housing Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 February 2019

Wednesday, 20 February 2019

Questions (49)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

49. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which he can address concerns of residents in areas that have seen large developments of housing stock while ensuring targets are being reached in the Rebuilding Ireland programme; the success of the programme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8399/19]

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Written answers

Under Rebuilding Ireland, some 50,000 additional social housing homes will be delivered through build, acquisition and leasing schemes over the period 2016-2021. In addition, a further 87,000 households will be supported under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme.

Overall targets for each local authority are directly proportionate to the housing need in their area and the aim is to deliver the housing required in the most efficient and effective manner through a range of delivery streams led by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). 

The scale and relevant tenure mix for new social housing developments are, in the first case, matters for the relevant local authority, whether those developments are contracted by the authorities themselves or by AHBs operating in their areas.  Central guidance for housing developments is set out in my Department's publication 'Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities', which is available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad%2C1979%2Cen.pdf.  This advises, inter alia, that good quality, sustainable housing developments should be socially and environmentally appropriate, where the mix of dwelling type, size and tenure should support sound social, environmental and economic sustainability policy objectives and contribute to the integrated development of the areas in which they are located.

The guidance also recommends that in the case of social housing, the mix of dwellings should have regard to the need to achieve a balance in home types, sizes and tenure, but should be based primarily on the results of the most recent assessment of housing need and the characteristics of households likely to be accommodated in the scheme.

I consider that this guidance is appropriate and will support the long-term, sustainable development of communities. In applying this guidance, local authorities or AHBs are not prohibited from developing new schemes of any particular size where they are working within the guidance on sustainable communities. The current portfolio of projects under development includes a wide range of different sized schemes.

Finally, a key determinant of the scale of new social housing developments is the consideration of such proposals by the elected members of each local authority, through the Part 8 planning process.

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