Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the criteria for receiving approval for the construction of a rural cottage; if a design or size criteria is laid down; if so, the scales or levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24009/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is open to local authorities to construct single rural houses as part of their housing construction/acquisition programmes. Guidelines for the construction of these houses are set out in my Department's Social Housing Design Guidelines. My Department notifies local authorities on an annual basis of the all-in-cost thresholds for the construction of a single rural house. Where the estimated all-in-cost of a rural house comes within the approved threshold and the house to be built is to a plan already approved by my Department, the approval of my Department is not required to the seeking of tenders nor the acceptance of a tender, where it is the lowest valid tender.