Written answers

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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113. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be a minimum allocation for social housing on all developments above 800 sq. m in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40958/14]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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At present, private developers are required under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, to ensure that 20% of land zoned for residential and other uses, is reserved for social or affordable housing. Informed by a recent review of the Part V provisions, which included a public consultation process, my Department has published the General Scheme of the Planning and Development (No. 1) Bill 2014 which is available on my Department’s website at the following link:.

The Bill is in the process of being drafted with a view to enactment in 2015.

The General Scheme provides that, in future, the focus of Part V will be on social housing, with a requirement for up to 10% social housing in developments in excess of 9 units. In the operation of these revised Part V arrangements, the priority will be to secure social housing units on-site; the monetary alternative in lieu of social housing is to be discontinued.

It is proposed that the new Part V arrangements may be applied retrospectively to existing planning permissions where the developer and the planning authority are in agreement. I believe that this approach will encourage the commencement of private developments that might not have commenced otherwise and as a consequence will lead to an increased social housing gain from private developments.

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