Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
660. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is national guidance on including play facilities in residential developments; if it is mandatory or whether it is at each local planning authority’s discretion to decide policy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43944/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra661. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is national guidance on including play environments in new or existing residential developments; if it is mandatory or optional for each local planning authority to decide on this (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43949/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 660 and 661 together.
The identification and implementation of recreational spaces at a regional and city scale is a matter for regional assemblies and local authorities, through the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (including Metropolitan Area Spatial Plans) and City/County Development Plans. Section 7.2 of the Development Plan Guidelines (2022) - Mandatory Objective: Amenities (Development) states that ‘when assessing the local requirements for amenities, planning authorities should provide a clear evidence base for amenities policies’ including existing demand, the anticipated demand generated by programmed new development and any gaps in provision that exist/may occur.
More specifically the requirement for play environments/facilitates is addressed within the following Guidelines:
- The Sustainable Urban Housing - Design Standards for New Apartments (2020): Section 4.13 states that the recreational needs of children must be considered as part of communal amenity space within apartment scheme. The - -
- Apartment Guidelines also provide further details with regard to the forms and location of such facilities.
- Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2009): Section 4.16 public open spaces should make provision for recreational facilities (both indoor and outdoor), which are based on an assessment of existing resources and user needs, including local play policies for children. The Guidelines also not that playgrounds should be carefully sited within residential areas so that they are both easily accessible and overlooked by dwellings, while not causing a nuisance to nearby residents. Further detail in this regard is provided within the Urban Design Manual (2009), which supplements the Guidelines.
- Local Area Plan Guidelines (2013): Section 5.1 stated that there should be an emphasis be on providing conveniently-located neighbourhood facilities commensurate with the projected population, including playground/play areas.
The Guidelines referred to above (including the Development Plan Guidelines) are issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Planning Act). Planning authorities must ‘have regard’ to the Guidelines when carrying out their strategic planning or development management functions. This means that planning authorities are required to demonstrate how the policies and objectives of the Guidelines have been applied. In the event that a planning authority forms the view that it is not possible to implement certain policies and objectives of the Guidelines, they must set out reasons for this. Oversight of the application of the Guidelines is provided independently by the Office of the Planning Regulator in relation to plans and by An Bord Pleanála (national planning appeals body) in relation to planning decisions.
It should be noted that my Department is currently working towards developing detailed guidelines in relation to sustainable settlement and best practice urban design, which will incorporate the 2009 Guidelines and Manual. It is my intention that the proposed ‘Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidelines’ will be issued under Section 28 of the Act and will seek to address key issues in relation to the design of open space, which provides a range of active and passive spaces to support the development of sustainable and amenable neighbourhoods that promote a high quality of life for its residents.
It should also be noted that Ready, Steady, Play, was published by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on 15 April 2019. The policy referencing playgrounds that recommends that ‘every neighbourhood park, serving a population of up to 10,000, should be capable of accommodating a playground or playlot’.
