Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in view of the decision to suspend many capital expenditure projects, he has any plans to review the policies that prohibit persons from building family homes on family land that has been provisionally earmarked for road or other capital projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35581/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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. They 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 wastewater 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). I am satisfied that the Guidelines are being implemented effectively and fairly, and I will continue to keep them under review in this regard.