Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the recent survey, carried out among apartment dwellers by the UCD Department of Urban and Regional Planning, which found significant levels of dissatisfaction with noisy neighbours, external storage space, gardens, litter, pollution and anti-social behaviour; the changes he will make to the planning guidelines for apartments as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13452/07]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the recent survey among apartment dwellers which found that only 25% of respondents think they will be living in an apartment in the future, and the need to upgrade design standards for apartments to include good parks and playgrounds, schools, clean streets, safe streets and good grocery or supermarket shopping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13453/07]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's plans to improve the design of new apartments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13418/07]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the recent figures from Census 2006 showing a large increase in the numbers living in apartments will lead to a shift in planning policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13420/07]

Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the recent results of a quality of life survey commissioned by Dublin City Council which found strong dissatisfaction among apartment dwellers with inadequate storage space, sound insulation, kitchen size, external views and security; if he will improve the guidelines for apartment construction to address these serious issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13451/07]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the recent figures from Census 2006 showing a large increase in the numbers living in apartments will lead to a shift in housing policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13419/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 62, 70, 88, 92 and 94 together.

Draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Design Standards for Apartments were published by my Department for public consultation on 9 January this year, with the closing date of 5 March for receipt of comments and submissions. Forty submissions have been received and are currently being considered by my Department. It is intended to finalise the guidelines for publication as soon as possible.

The primary aim of the draft Guidelines is to promote sustainable urban housing by ensuring that the design and layout of new apartments will provide satisfactory accommodation for a variety of household types and sizes — including families with children — over the medium to long term. The guidance focuses on the apartment building itself and on individual units within, and sets recommended target average floor areas and a mix of unit types/sizes in apartment developments to help to ensure sustainable residential communities and facilitate integrated developments for different categories of occupants.

The new guidelines form part of a suite of guidance being prepared by the Department within a wider housing/planning context, which will also include:

new sustainable residential development guidelines which will incorporate a revision of the 1999 residential density guidelines;

a new best practice urban design handbook illustrating, with examples drawn from current practice, how the policies set out in the residential development guidelines should be implemented; and

the Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities guidelines (published last week) which revise and update the 1999 Social Housing Design Guidelines, focussing on the process surrounding the delivery of quality housing for sustainable communities.

The final apartment design guidelines will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This will require planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála to have regard to them in the performance of their functions. However, pending finalisation of the guidelines, planning authorities are being requested to have regard to the recommended standards for new apartment schemes, when preparing or varying development plans and local area plans, particularly when their current plans incorporate older standards.