Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I oppose the Bill but wish to clarify the Government's position regarding the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act introduced in 2002 and particularly how it impacted on the provision of social and affordable housing. There has been much misinterpretation of Part V since its introduction. I have arranged for my Department to prepare a short Part V fact sheet which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

It is the view of the majority of observers that Part V is a key measure in providing housing for all the community, especially those in need of social and affordable housing. For the first time it made the community's needs for social and affordable housing a material planning consideration that a local authority is obliged to take into account when preparing its housing strategy, formulating development plan policies and deciding on residential planning applications. Part V places a statutory obligation on local authorities to ensure that sufficient land is zoned for housing in their development plans to meet the projected housing requirements over the period of the plan. A set percentage, up to 20%, of residentially zoned land must be reserved for social and affordable housing.

Each planning authority is required to prepare a housing strategy that covers the period of the development plan. The housing strategy forms an integral part of the development plan and acts as a cornerstone for future housing policy within the functional area of the authority. Local authorities set out the options for compliance with Part V in their housing strategies. Through the 2002 amendment, they are enabled to develop different preferred options. In effect, local authorities determine what they want from developers to meet the need for social and affordable housing in their area.

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