Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1470. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the Minister of State's letter to the chief executive officers of the four Dublin local authorities dated 10 June 2015 that urged adherence to minimum development plan standards in building construction would be at extreme variance with his consistent argument that water conservation methods must be encouraged domestically; his further views on the inclusion in a city-county development plan, which stipulated a high water conservation standard along the lines of his objection letter of 10 June last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31820/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I and Minister of State Coffey and jointly wrote to the Chief Executives of each of the four Dublin Local Authorities on 10 June 2015 urging that the process for making development plans, underway in each authority at present, should focus around practical measures that can be adopted to boost housing supply and to ensure that good quality housing in suitable locations is available at affordable prices.

The letter highlights the impacts of development plan requirements on the viability of new development and advises rigorous regulatory impact assessment of any new or existing development plan standards that are above relevant national minimum requirements. Floor size is one such example. The critical need for viable housing development will be central to my Department’s exercise of its statutory role in the development plan process.

Central to reform of water services is ensuring conservation of Ireland's precious water resources, whether water is supplied by Irish Water, the group water sector or through private sources. Water conservation in the public network is being addressed at a national level through Irish Water conservation measures in the roll out of its capital programme and at household level through Irish Water's ‘First Fix Leak Repair Scheme’, which facilitates the fixing of customer-side leaks from the front gate to as close as possible to the dwelling. The Government is also implementing a water conservation grant scheme, a €100 annual payment in support of water conservation measures, to eligible households (both Irish Water customers and non-customers) that registered with Irish Water by 30 June 2015.