Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
776. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to fulfil the programme for government commitment to embed ageing in place options for older persons into the planning system as the county and city development plans are redrawn in 2021. [41139/21]
View answerThe National Planning Framework (NPF) Project Ireland 2040 is the overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. Objective 30 of the Framework provides that local planning, housing, transport/accessibility and leisure policies will be developed with a focus on meeting the needs and opportunities of an ageing population, along with the inclusion of specific projections, supported by clear proposals in respect of ageing communities as part of the core strategy of city and county development plans.
Each of the thirty-one local authorities must prepare a city or county development plan every six years, as well as more area or town-focused local area plans. Development plans put in place a range of spatial polices that support the accommodation of and quality of life for all, including older persons, with objectives included for “the integration of the planning and sustainable development of the area with the social, community and cultural requirements of the area and its population”. In particular these objectives include “facilities for the elderly and for persons with disabilities”.
In terms of the evaluation of housing needs, National Policy Objective 37 of the National Planning Framework (NPF) provides for a Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) to be undertaken in each local authority area. The objective is to ensure long-term strategic housing needs are met. The purpose of the HNDA is to: (1) assist local authorities to develop long-term strategic views of housing need across all tenure, (2) provide a robust evidence base to support decisions about new housing supply, wider investment and housing related services, which inform an overall national housing profile, (3) inform policies about the proportion of social and affordable housing required, and (4) provide evidence to inform policies related to the provision of specialist housing and housing related services. Further information on the HNDA is available online at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/eaa99-housing-need-and-demand-assessment-hnda/.
Guidance was issued to local authorities on 14 April 2021 by Circular, advising that the Excel-based HNDA Tool with associated Instructions, data sources and other background information are available on the HNDA page of the Department’s website and that it is expected that a HNDA will be completed in accordance with the associated guidance as part of the development plan review process in cases where the notice of the review of the plan issues subsequent to 14 April 2021.
