Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the degree to which he expects to be in a position to meet rural housing requirements in all counties where there is an obvious need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33361/23]
View answerThe Government fully recognises the need to provide new housing in rural areas and this objective is supported in the National Planning Framework (NPF). National Policy Objectives 15 and 19 of the NPF recognises the strong connection to rural Ireland as places to live, work and visit. There continues to be strong delivery of new dwellings in all rural areas nationally with c.4,000-5,000 new rural dwellings being built annually. In this regard, Planning permissions continue to be granted nationally including permission for 7,499 once-off homes in 2021 and 6,924 in 2022 – the vast majority of which are located in rural areas indicating strong provision of new housing in our rural areas. Planning data for various counties can be accessed from each planning authority.
Updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on NPO19 of the NPF, which makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other.
NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social (intrinsic part of the community) or economic (persons working full or part time) need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.
The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 19 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.
Due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, will comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft planning guidelines will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.
The draft guidelines are subject to legal review and Ministerial approval, following which it is intended that the draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation.
