Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2023
64. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to develop housing policy with appropriate density and zoning, such that it supports the development of district heating networks and rail transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54134/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe zoning of land for particular uses, including housing, is an exercise undertaken as part of the overall statutory development plan function under sections 9-13 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended). Under this legislation, the decision to zone land for development is a reserved function of the elected members of each planning authority. My Department published statutory ‘Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ in July 2022, under section 28 of the Planning Act, which set out national policy in relation to the zoning of land. Section 28 provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the performance of their functions.
My Department is also developing national policy in relation to residential density. The ‘Draft Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ were published on 31 August 2023 for consultation. The Draft Guidelines set out proposed policies and objectives in relation to the planning and development of urban and rural settlements, including residential density standards. They provide for higher densities at more central and accessible urban locations, including locations proximate to high capacity public transport node or interchanges. This includes lands within 1,000 metres walking distance of existing or planned high capacity rail services such as DART, high frequency Commuter Rail, Light Rail or Metro Link. The Guidelines, when finalised, will be published as Ministerial Guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and will replace the Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas Guidelines last issued in 2009. It is envisaged that these Guidelines will be published in December 2023.
In parallel, my Department and the Department of Transport (DoT) has established a working group under ‘Housing for All’ to consider opportunities for Transport Orientated Development (TOD) in major urban centres. TOD seeks to maximise the provision of housing, employment, public services and leisure space in close proximity to high quality transport services. The first report from this Working Group, which looked at Transport Orientated Development Opportunities in Dublin, was published on the 23 of June 2023. The TOD Working Group is now focussing on TOD opportunities in the Eastern Region and in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford in 2023. It is intended that when this assessment process is concluded, a similar report to that published in respect of the four Dublin authorities will be published. The outputs from this work will help to inform wider Government policy and initiatives in support of the National Strategic Outcomes of the National Planning Framework, in particular outcomes relating to Compact Growth, Sustainable Mobility and Transition to a Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Society.
The Heat and Built Environment Taskforce has been established by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to accelerate and drive delivery in relation to retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat and decarbonisation of the building stock. In relation to district heating specifically, my Department is continuing to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in respect of the potential to support the delivery of district heating in appropriate locations, thereby accelerating the transition to renewable heat.
