Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

No one could argue that this group did not represent a broad range of relevant interested parties from whom balanced and practical recommendations for improvement could be expected. The review concluded that greater flexibility in the operation of Part V was required. Measures to achieve this were contained in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002 that Deputy Crowe is now proposing to abolish.

The requirement for the provision of social and affordable housing in new developments contained in the original Act has not been deleted or removed. The primary requirement of Part V, which has remained unchanged since its introduction in 2000, is the transfer of land on-site. The transfer of housing units, which is my preferred option and the preference of many local authorities and developers, is one of the options to the transfer of land on-site. We have made it clear to local authorities and developers that we seek housing units.

The 2002 amendment provides additional ways in which applicants for residential planning permission may comply with the requirements of Part V. Instead of reserving land or providing sites to the local authority within the proposed development, applicants can now reach an agreement with the local authority to reserve land or to provide houses or sites at another location, to make a financial contribution that will be used for the provision of social and affordable housing, or to agree to a combination of any of these options. The money collected to date — €38 million — has been ring-fenced for housing.

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