Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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853. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans in relation to the tenure mix of new social housing developments, in order to avoid problems historically associated with social housing crises in the past. [11089/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department has produced considerable policy and technical guidance documents to assist local authorities in promoting Sustainable Communities. The local authority development plan process is a key instrument in putting the policies in place in this regard.

In considering any new social housing delivery initiatives local authorities must take account of the overall development concerned and the breakdown of the types of occupancy within that development. This is necessary to ensure that the delivery of social housing is to be carried out in a way that is consistent with the Government's commitment to the key principle of developing sustainable communities.

Under Section 19 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, a housing authority may provide, facilitate or manage the provision of social housing support, including social housing provided under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. In performing its functions, a housing authority shall have regard to its housing services plan and the need to (a) counteract undue segregation in housing between persons of different social backgrounds and (b) ensure that a mixture of dwelling types and sizes and of classes of tenure is provided to reasonably match the requirements of households.

Under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, each planning authority must include, in any development plan, a housing strategy for the purpose of ensuring that the proper planning and sustainable development of the area of the development plan provides for the housing of the existing and future population of the area in the manner set out in the housing strategy. A housing strategy must take into account, for example: the need to ensure that housing is available for persons who have different levels of income; the need to ensure that a mixture of house types and sizes is developed to reasonably match the requirements of households, including special requirements of elderly persons and persons with disabilities; and the need to counteract undue segregation in housing between persons of different social background.

Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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854. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views that a fast-track planning process should be provided in order to expedite social housing projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11090/15]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Social housing developments by a local authority may be approved by the members of a local authority under the procedures set out in Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, unless the development requires an Environmental Impact Assessment or an appropriate assessment, in which case it must be submitted to An Bord Pleanála under sections 175 or 177AE of the Planning and Development Act 2000, respectively.

The Part 8 provisions set out a procedure to ensure that the public and prescribed bodies are consulted on any such proposed developments. A local authority is required to give public notice of the proposed development, including notice to prescribed bodies, and it must invite submissions on the development. The local authority must also make available for inspection documents, particulars and plans relating to any such proposed development.

Further to the public consultation process, the Chief Executive of the planning authority is then required to prepare a written report and submit it to the elected members, which describes the nature and extent of the development and its principal features and evaluates whether or not it would be consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area to which the development relates, having regard to the provisions of the development plan. The report must give the Chief Executive's reasons and the considerations for the evaluation. The report must also list the persons or bodies who made submissions or observations on the proposed development and summarise the issues - with respect to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area - raised in any such submissions or observations, and incorporate the response of the Chief Executive to these issues. The proposed development may then proceed unless the elected members decide by resolution to vary or modify it or decide not to proceed with it.

Having regard to the desirability of consulting the public and prescribed bodies in relation to substantial developments, I consider that the procedures set out in Part 8 are reasonable and appropriate, and I do not consider that these procedures lead to any undue delay in the provision of social housing.

Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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855. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the Dublin social housing delivery task force is required, in addition to the local authorities, in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11093/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Social housing is a key priority for the Government, evidenced by the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced for it in Budget 2015. Accordingly, the Social Housing Strategy 2020, published in November 2014, sets ambitious targets for supply and reform of the sector.

Given the scale of the challenge in the Dublin area, a key early action of the Strategy was the establishment of a Dublin Social Housing Delivery Taskforce (DSHDT), to oversee and drive the Strategy's implementation across the four Dublin local authorities. The DSHDT is building on the work of the Housing Supply Co-ordination Taskforce established under Construction 2020.

Full details regarding the Taskforce's role and its terms of reference are set out at paragraph 4.3 of the Strategy. The Strategy is available on my Department's website at the following link:

Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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856. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the quantity of land that has been identified as suitable for the development of social housing within the ownership of each local authority. [11094/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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A Departmental audit of the availability of local authority land was carried out in 2010 and a further survey of lands available for housing was carried out in 2012. The 2010 audit identified approximately 600 local authority owned sites intended for residential purposes.  The 2012 survey identified 525hectares of serviced land owned by local authorities as available for housing purposes. Currently specific sites are being selected by local authoritiesfor their housing programmes over the next 6 years.

In conjunction with the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, in November 2014, the Housing Agency, in consultation with my Department and local authorities, is updating the data and developing a more extensive and detailed database and GIS map of local authority owned sites in order to support the implementation of the Strategy. The database will include all local authority owned lands and Land Aggregation Scheme lands showing their location, size, boundaries and other information. This map will be up-dated over the course of the Strategy to record the development and use of lands.

Local authorities are currently in the process of returning land data and assessment results and a full analysis of this data will commence in April 2015.