Ivana Bacik
Question:347. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding Part V tenants' use of communal areas in apartments; and his plans to review this policy. [33527/23]
View answerTuesday, 11 July 2023
Questions (347)
Written answers
Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires private developers to ensure that a specified percentage of land zoned for residential and other uses is reserved for social and affordable housing.
Local authorities negotiate Part V agreements with the developer in line with a range of guidelines and supports aimed at assisting them in maximising the benefits of Part V in the context of its housing needs. Depending on the characteristics of the development, these negotiations may also include a social housing tenant’s access to any amenities which are over and above the standard open space requirements, for example gyms, cinema rooms, co-working areas etc. Neither I or my Department have a role in the process of the local authority reaching an agreement with a developer.
It is a matter for each local authority to decide to pay these additional amenity contribution costs from local authority funds on a case by case basis, or to explore the option for tenants to pay these costs directly to the relevant entity charging the fee. It is my understanding that generally local authorities opt out of the additional amenity levies, as these can be a significant extra cost and are not provided to tenants of other forms of social housing.