Vol. 508 No. 3
111 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the approach, if any, he has made, to any of the churches regarding the possible use of church-owned land for housing purposes in view of the housing crisis; the response, if any, he has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18712/99]
I refer the Deputy to my reply earlier today to priority Question No. 56.
My Department has written to the Conference of Religious in Ireland, the Irish Episcopal Conference and the Representative Body of the Church of Ireland seeking meetings regarding land or property surplus to requirements and which could be converted to residential use or development. The purpose of such meetings is to make an estimate of how much land would be available and to achieve an understanding that such land would first be offered to the relevant local authority on terms agreeable to both parties. A meeting has been arranged with CORI for this afternoon, 5 October, and my Department expects to arrange meetings with the other two bodies shortly.
112 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the policy, if any, his Department has for the provision of open spaces which incorporate parks, gardens and playfields in conjunction with housing developments and in particular with the building of large housing estates; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is less land now being made available for these spaces in urban areas than was the case a century ago; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the lack of facilities is a contributory factor in urban crime and anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18770/99]
Local authorities are empowered, under the Local Government Act, 1994, to provide, operate and maintain parks and open spaces for amenity and recreational purposes. The criteria to be applied to the provision of public open space in housing schemes is a matter for each local authority in accordance with their development plan. When deciding planning applications, a planning authority must have regard to the policies set out in the plan and may attach conditions to permissions requiring the provision of appropriate facilities. My Department does not have any information avail able to substantiate the claim that less land is now being made available for public open spaces than was the case a century ago.
The recently published Planning Guidelines on Residential Density indicate that public open space is one of the key elements in defining the quality of the residential environment. The guidelines acknowledge that, in general, planning authorities set out detailed quantitative standards for public open space in their development plans, but less emphasis is placed on qualitative standards. This can give rise to residential estates having adequate amounts of open space but often poorly located or unsuitably shaped. This can result in under-used spaces and in some cases spaces which encourage anti-social activity. The guidelines indicate that the achievement of higher densities must be coupled with a higher standard of residential environment and thus the provision of higher quality communal and public open spaces is of paramount importance. The guidelines recommend that any acceptance of lower quantitative standards of open space must be accompanied by a parallel increase in qualitative standards of open space. The guidelines set out detailed qualitative and quantitative standards in relation to the provision of public open space in higher density residential developments.
The provision of open spaces, recreational facilities, amenity areas, etc., specifically in local authority housing schemes, is also a matter for the individual housing authorities in the first instance. Appropriate limited facilities of this kind are funded as part of the cost of a housing scheme from my Department's capital allocations where the work is undertaken in conjunction with the provision of new local authority housing or the refurbishment of existing housing under the remedial works scheme.
Local authorities have recently been advised in new social housing design guidelines issued by the Department that appropriate provision should be made within schemes for play areas, including play spaces for small children, and soft and hard landscaping of all common open space areas. In relation to public open space, authorities were advised that in deciding on the extent and nature of open space within a scheme, regard should be had to the size of the scheme, the nature of accommodation being provided, existing open space provision in the area and the requirements of the development plan for the area. Open space generally should be laid out so that it is attractive and usable by the residents. Large undefined areas should be avoided as should pockets of badly shaped, fragmented or unusable land which is difficult to maintain.
