John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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345. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government following the publication of his action plan for housing and homelessness four months ago the status of the progress made to date on action 4.5 to examine standards, costs and feasibility of build to rent on a large scale and commission research on ways in which further investment might be encouraged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35091/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Pillar 4 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits to developing a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector in Q4 2016. The strategy will lay out measures to address immediate issues affecting the supply, cost and accessibility of accommodation. There will also be a focus on maintaining existing levels of rental stock and encouraging investment in additional supply, including through build to rent approaches.

As a first step in this regard, my Department issued Circular APH 5 - 2016 to local authorities in October 2016, requesting them to prioritise Build-to-Rent projects coming forward from housing providers for consideration in their areas and emphasising the critical role that such projects can play in addressing the current severe shortage of rental accommodation.

Local authorities were also requested to consider the use of lands in their ownership for such projects and were invited to put forward proposals to my Department for consideration in that regard.

Clarity was also provided in the circular on the planning issues related to such housing schemes, including in relation to appropriate housing types and locations, management, Part V requirements, amenities, car parking, etc. Specific amendments were also made in the circular to the Design Standards for New Apartment Guidelines (2015) in order to provide greater certainty for the consideration of such developments by planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála.