Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 November 2020
99. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to issue the methodology for the housing needs demand assessment to local authorities as part of the development plan review process. [35581/20]
View answerNational Policy Objective 37 of the National Planning Framework requires that each local authority should undertake a "Housing Need and Demand Assessment" for their area. This will be important in estimating likely future housing need across tenures, including social housing need.
Work on the development of the HNDA process is ongoing in my Department. Research on population projections at local authorities level is being progressed with the ESRI and development of a HNDA tool with the Scottish Centre for Housing Market Analysis is also in train. This new evidence-based approach will form the basis of a more accurate and consistent projection of demand for different tenures of housing.
The prototype tool to assist local authorities in carrying out HNDA is now moving into pilot phase, with the first pilot scheduled for this month. Feedback from this will be used to modify the tool as required and a final version is expected to be ready in early 2021, along with technical guidance on the tool and draft revised Housing Strategy Guidelines, incorporating the HNDA Framework, under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Following adoption of Regional Spatial and Economic and Strategies by the three Regional assemblies earlier this year, the process of reviewing individual county development plans by local authorities is underway and will continue into 2021, overseen by the Office of Planning Regulator. These reviews will include preparation of a housing strategy and completion of a HNDA.
