Vol. 550 No. 1
39 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress made regarding implementing the requirement that all new housing developments should have a minimum 20% of social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6967/02]
In accordance with Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, all planning authorities prepared their housing strategies by the statutory deadline of end July 2001. All development plans, with the exception of those of Buncrana and Nenagh Town Councils and Wexford Borough Council, have been varied to include the housing strategies.
The majority of the 33 strategies provide for the full 20% maximum provision for social and affordable housing. Kilkenny provides for 18.7%, Laois for 17.5% and the remaining five – Cavan, Donegal, Fingal, Offaly and South Dublin County Councils – provide for 15%. Just over half of the strategies specify a split between social and affordable housing. The strategies set out the full range of options available for the provision of social and affordable housing viz. the Multi-Annual Local Authority Housing Programme 2000-2003, casual vacancies, the current affordable housing scheme, the shared ownership scheme, the voluntary and co-operative housing sector, housing provided under Part V, private sites, and public private partnerships.
