James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

Amendment No. 1 seeks to provide for the zoning of land for the particular use of affordable housing. The amendment itself appears to amend a wrong section of the Bill, as section 4 of the Bill amends section 45 of the principal Act, which deals with the implementation and monitoring of regional spatial and economic strategies. In any event, I cannot accept this amendment as zoning requirements are already adequately dealt with in the Act of 2024. Section 43 of the Act of 2024 outlines the content requirements of development plans. Section 43(6) of the Act provides that the written statement for the integrated overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area included in a development plan shall include zoning objectives for the zoning of land for a particular use or mixture of uses. Prior to making a development plan a planning authority shall prepare a housing strategy under Part 7 of the Act of 2024 for the purpose of ensuring that the corresponding housing development strategy makes adequate provision for the housing of the existing and future population of the area of the development plan in accordance with proper planning and sustainable development of the area. The housing strategy shall take account of the existing and likely future need for affordable housing, including for the purposes of the provision of social housing, while section 242(10) of the Act of 2024 provides that up to 20% of land used for residential purposes, including land that is not zoned for residential use or for a mixture of residential and other uses but in respect of which permission for the development for houses is granted, must be provided for social, affordable or cost-rental housing. Therefore, I am satisfied that the provisions regarding affordable housing under the Act of 2024 are appropriate and, therefore, I cannot accept this amendment.

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