The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act, 2016 introduced new streamlined arrangements to enable planning applications for Strategic Housing Developments of 100 housing units or more, or student accommodation or shared accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more, to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála for determination.
Under Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I, as Minister, am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned, except in very specific circumstances, which would not apply in this case.
In relation to housing affordability generally, this Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society and this is reflected in the Programme for Government "Our Shared Future". The Programme commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing.
Since taking up Office I have established a High Level Housing Delivery Group of key partners to ensure that delivery is prioritised this year, taking account of the impact of Covid 19. I intend to expand this work to cover the expedited delivery of social and affordable housing over the lifetime of the Government.
In terms of affordable housing more generally, I will outline my detailed plans in the near future, taking account of progress to date under the Serviced Sites Fund, experience from three Cost Rental pilots, a number of other measures, as well as the input of key delivery partners.
