Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I welcome this legislation. The push for its introduction came from the local authorities, whose members have observed the problem in the supply of housing. The Minister said that the Bill is primarily about housing supply and promoting social integration. I welcome the fact that it not only deals with amending Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, but that it also provides for other amendments to that Act and certain amendments to the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992, and the Housing Finance Agency Act, 1981.

The question of housing supply has been raised at local authority level. The first basic aim of Part V of 2000 Act is to require planning authorities to ensure that enough land is zoned for housing development in their development plans and to meet the estimated needs for all types of housing in their areas. This has been very much welcomed. The second basic aim of Part V of the Act is to require that a stated proportion – up to a maximum of 20% – of residentially zoned land must be reserved to meet the existing need for social and affordable housing. Developers can also agree to build houses or service sites and hand those over instead. There is also an option in certain circumstances to provide money in lieu.

Part V of the 2000 Act also introduced a two year limit on planning permissions applied for after publication of the planning Bill and prior to incorporation of the housing strategy in the relevant development plans. The reason for its inclusion was to prevent developers stockpiling planning permissions which would not be subject to the requirements to reserve land or houses for social and affordable housing.

Part V is based on the principle that there should be some benefit to the community arising from the decision of a land authority to zone land for residential development. That is the reason Part V provides that up to 20% of such land should be part of the granted planning permission and that it should be made available to the local authority at existing use value.