Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is not possible for my Department to forecast definitively how many additional dwellings will be built in rural areas as a result of the recently launched guidelines for planning authorities on sustainable rural housing. However, according to the latest statistics available, it is estimated that of the order of 15,000 one-off houses were built in rural areas in 2004. This equates to approximately 25% of the houses completed last year.

My Department has commissioned research from the National Spatial Research Institute at NUI Maynooth which will show, inter alia, at district electoral division level, the numbers of one-off houses constructed during different periods, the intensity of rural house building in different areas and the ratio of farm to non-farm one-off houses. This research is expected to be available shortly and will be of assistance in analysing the numbers, locations and intensity of house building in rural areas.