Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2023
234. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the number of Section 179A social housing planning applications that are currently under way; and to provide a table, by local authority, listing the individual planning proposals and number of social homes involved and where decisions have been made or are pending. [51787/23]
View answerLegislation enacted in December 2022 amended the Planning and Development Act. The provisions under sections 3, 13 and 14 of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Act 2022 which insert section 179A into the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, have commenced. These provisions provide that housing development by, on behalf of, or in partnership with a local authority which commences construction before the end of 2024 will be exempt from planning permission and from the Local Authority ’Part 8’ process, subject to a number of specific conditions. Where a development does not satisfy the conditions set out in section 179A, the normal Local Authority own development arrangements under the ‘Part 8’ process will apply.
As the period ending 30 June 2023 is the first reporting period under article 39A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, it is anticipated that numbers of units proposed will progress as local authorities identify potential developments to utilise the exemption for commencement prior to 31 December 2024. The table below indicates the number of units where site notices have been issued by each local authority as of the end of 30 June 2023. Data for Q3 2023 has been requested from local authorities and will be available in due course.
|
County Council |
No. of Social Homes |
|
Cork County Council |
23 |
|
Dublin City Council |
92 |
|
Fingal County Council |
121 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
49 |
|
Laois County Council |
3 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
85 |
|
Mayo County Council |
21 |
|
Offaly County Council |
4 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
23 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
80 |
|
Total |
501 |
