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Social and Affordable Housing.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2005

Tuesday, 10 May 2005

Ceisteanna (404, 405)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

456 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the consultations his Department held with Kildare County Council before the announcement on 4 July 2003 that Magee Barracks, Kildare town, was to be made available for housing as part of the affordable housing initiative in the context of the Sustaining Progress agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14946/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

457 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the decision to use the lands at Magee Barracks, Kildare town, for the purposes of the affordable housing initiative, as announced by the Taoiseach on 4 July 2003, has been examined for conformity with the principles of sustainable development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14947/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 457 together.

To ensure progress on the affordable housing initiative, the Government undertook to examine the best use of resources at its disposal, which included the housing potential of under-utilised State lands. Arising from this process, the former Magee Barracks in Kildare was identified as a potential site to deliver housing for this initiative.

The site was released to the initiative by the Minister for Defence on foot of a Government decision of 1 July 2003. Its release was consistent with the previously stated objective of Kildare County Council to have the former Magee Barracks area brought forward for development. The county council had earlier been identified in the Kildare town local area plan 2002 as being an area suitable for extensive development with a mix of uses so as to generate a new vibrant quarter to the town emerges. At that stage, it was envisaged that a separate local area plan for the site would identify the proposed uses, street pattern or urban form and mobility through the site. The council intended that this area would be knitted in to the existing urban fabric so that it would become an integral part of the extended town centre. At the time, it was decided to leave the zoning of the lands unchanged pending the actual adoption of the separate plan on the former barracks.

As with other sites being released to the initiative, the detailed consultations necessary to facilitate the full potential of the site had to be undertaken in accordance with the appropriate planning framework. In this context, officials from my Department consulted with Kildare County Council on how best to proceed with development on this site with a view to the earliest possible delivery of affordable housing units.

The site has been the subject of a local area plan prepared by the county council and advertised in February this year. The plan will be on display until 16 May during which time comments or submissions may be made to the county council, providing ample time for all views to be considered. The plan seeks to cater for the development of the site in an appropriate and sustainable way, with a mix of residential housing types. There is the potential for up to 700 housing units to be developed on the site, with a minimum of 350 units being made available to the initiative.

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