Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way in which he intends to ensure that social integration of housing is achieved and that the ghettoisation effect that was prevalent in earlier decades is not repeated in an environment where developers are allowed to buy their way out of their social housing obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16475/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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A new Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities which outlines key principles underpinning housing policy and investment over the coming years was launched last December. The framework proposes an integrated approach to housing in Ireland and firmly places housing policy in the context of building sustainable communities.

The delivery of high quality housing for those who cannot afford to meet their own housing needs is a clear objective of the framework. It is not acceptable that social housing should be compared unfavourably with private housing development. Therefore, we are committed to delivering high quality social housing in mixed community settings. To make a reality of better social housing, the Government will ensure that new housing is designed and planned on quality principles, includes an appropriate housing mix and provides necessary social infrastructure. We will also continue to invest in regeneration and remedial works schemes to improve existing local authority housing and audit of the social housing stock will be undertaken in 2008 to ensure that standards and levels of satisfaction are rising.

In addition, Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000-2004 requires planning authorities, in developing their housing strategies, to ensure that policies and objectives are in place that will counteract undue social segregation in housing developments. In their negotiations with developers under Part V, local authorities are obliged to ensure that each agreement delivers the best possible result in terms of overall housing supply and social integration for their area.