Brendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 507: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on rural sustainability as presented in one-off housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32552/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department's guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing (2005) are designed to achieve a balance between a good planning framework for rural housing and the local housing needs of those who are part of, or have links to, local rural communities. The Guidelines elaborate on the physical development policies for rural areas as set out in the Government's National Spatial Strategy (2002) which, inter alia, promotes sustainable rural settlement as a key component of delivering more balanced regional development.

The guidelines set out how planning authorities should frame their development plan policies for the different types of rural areas which may exist within the development plan area, such as rural areas close to large towns and cities or those suffering from population decline. They also provide guidance to planning authorities on dealing with planning applications for rural housing including consideration of issues such as access to appropriate waste water treatment facilities, potential impacts of the development on groundwater, landscape, natural and cultural heritage and addressing road safety issues (e.g. frontage onto national roads). A copy of the guidelines are available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.