Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures the Government are taking to ensure that the booming market in holiday homes in areas like Inishowen does not distort the market to the extent that local people are forced to live and commute great distances between their homes and farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19663/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has published guidelines for planning authorities on sustainable rural housing which encourage planning authorities to opt for a housing needs-based approach to assessment of rural housing proposals in areas where development pressure for new houses in rural areas is high. A housing needs-based planning policy approach should establish a positive presumption in favour of housing being proposed by established members of the rural community.

These guidelines also urge planning authorities to plan for holiday home developments in a positive and sustainable manner, to emphasise a preference towards clustering of holiday home developments in or adjoining small towns and villages and to adopt a plan-led approach in identifying potential and preferred locations for holiday home development in rural villages and areas.