Vol. 454 No. 6
134 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment if he will confirm that housing developments by local authorities are now subject to the planning process; whether there is an appeals procedure in place in relation to such planning decisions; if not, if a system of appeal will be provided in view of the fact that city managers and county managers function as both planning and housing managers in most cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11422/95]
The carrying out of housing development by a local authority in its functional area is exempted development under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963. However, section 3 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1993 specifically provides for an alternative procedure in the case of certain classes of development by local authorities.
Effect is given to the provision in the 1993 Act by Part X of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1994, under which local authorities are obliged to give public notice of, inter alia, a proposal to construct or erect a house or other dwelling. Submissions or observations dealing with the proper planning and development of the area concerned must be sought in regard to the proposed development and the plans must be available for inspection by the public during a period of not less than one month.
Following the period allowed for submissions or observations, a report must be prepared regarding the details of the proposal and this must include details on any submissions or observations received in relation to it. The report must be submitted to the elected members of the local authority who have the discretion, under section 3 of the Local Government Act, 1955, to direct that the proposed development is not to proceed.
I believe that this is an open and democratic procedure and I have no plans at present to introduce any changes to it.
135 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment the average cost of local authority dwellings built during 1994; the highest and lowest unit cost; the local authorities with the highest average unit cost; the local authorities with the lowest average cost; if he has set any maximum unit cost, including site acquisition and planning costs, in respect of Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11423/95]
The average all-in cost nationally of providing a standard three bedroomed local authority house in 1994 is estimated at £40,000. From the information available to my Department, the lowest cost in 1994 for such a house was about £30,000, and the highest was £79,000, approximately, for a house in an inner city scheme in Dublin city. Costs for standard three bedroomed local authority houses in the Dublin region and in the county borough areas were at the upper end of the range (up to £60,000) and those for most of the county council areas were at the lower end, generally between £30,000 and £40,000.
Last February, I fixed unit cost limits for two, three and four bedroomed houses in the case of all local authorities in order to speed up the implementation of the local authority housing programme by reducing the number of submissions for specific Departmental approval. The unit cost limits for Dublin Corporation are £50,000, £56,000 and £59,000 for two, three and four bedroomed houses, respectively. If the corporation can provide houses at or below these cost limits, they are free to seek and accept tenders provided approved house plans are used, the layout plan conforms to the Department's guidelines, and the lowest valid tender is accepted. If costs exceed these limits generally or for an individual scheme, the corporation can apply to my Department for an increase in the limits generally or in the case of that scheme, setting out the circumstances and the reasons for the higher costs; any such applications will be considered on their merits.
