Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2014
567. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his proposals for the future of Part V of the Planning and Development Act; the annual expected yield of homes under the new proposals from 2015 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38290/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast week, I announced major reforms of the planning system as part of the forthcoming Planning and Development (No. 1) Bill 2014. The general scheme of the Bill will be published in the coming weeks, and I am intent on delivering this legislation in the shortest time frame possible.
The new reforms include new Part V requirements for developers, the introduction of a vacant site levy and ‘Use it or Lose it’ clauses on planning permissions.
The new Part V proposals will require developers to provide up to 10% of their housing units for social housing and the legislation will remove the ability of developers to account for their social housing commitments through cash payments to local authorities. The proposals will furthermore ensure that the social housing units will be located predominantly on the site of the original developments.
Under these plans, it is estimated that in the region of 4,000 additional social housing units will be delivered through the Part V mechanism by 2020.
