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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 3

Written Answers - Proposed Legislation.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

89 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether the Planning and Development Bill, 1999, will be in operation by Easter 2000; the likely timescale thereafter for regulations to be made under the Bill; the proposed date when each housing authority will have adopted a housing strategy; when it is expected that each planning authority will have revised its development plan based on the housing strategy; when it is expected that the first planning permission will be issued which will contain a condition that up to 20 per cent of a development will be set aside for social or affordable housing; and the earliest date by which construction will commence on the first house which will come available under this legislation. [18724/99]

The Planning and Development Bill, 1999 will start Second Stage in the Seanad on 14 October 1999. It is the Government's intention that it be enacted by Easter of next year, although this is dependent on the co-operation of all parties in both Houses, so that the proposals in this radical and necessary legislation can be implemented as quickly as possible. I intend to make the necessary commencement orders immediately on enactment of the Bill and planning regulations will also be made promptly. Regulations under Part V of the Bill relating to the supply of housing are subject to the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Bill provides that each planning authority will have to prepare a housing strategy, and commence the procedures to vary the development plan to accommodate the strategy, within one year from the commencement of the Bill. However, I intend to request local authorities to start in preparing the groundwork for their new housing strategy documents so that the provisions of the Bill can become effective as soon as possible after the Bill is enacted.

Any application for planning permission for residential development after the local authority has adopted the housing strategy and amended the development plan accordingly will be subject to the social and affordable housing requirement set out therein.

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