Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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228. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39449/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Addressing the under-provision of housing is one of the key objectives in the Programme for a Partnership Governmentand the Government has underpinned its commitment to tackling the housing supply shortage by publishing Rebuilding Ireland – An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessnessin July.

The provisions of the Planning and Development (Housing) And Residential Tenancies Bill 2016intend to give early effect to a number of priority legislative measures in Rebuilding Ireland, including inter alia:

- the introduction of temporary fast-track planning arrangements in respect of large-scale housing developments, and

-introducing certain legislative amendments to enhance the functioning of the private rented sector.

Under the proposed new planning arrangements, planning applications for large-scale housing developments (100+ units), including student accommodation developments (200+ units), will be made directly to An Bord Pleanála and determined within a specified timeframe. This is intended to provide greater certainty for developers and facilitating the earlier provision of increased housing supply and helping to address the current housing supply shortage situation.

Under the new arrangements, the local planning authority will retain a major role in the planning process for large housing developments, with a statutory input into both the pre-planning application consultations conducted with the developer and the subsequent examination by the Board of the substantive planning application, in terms of advising whether or not the proposed development is broadly in compliance with the development plan or local area plan and is serviced by necessary supporting infrastructure .

Furthermore, members of the public will continue to be able to make submissions to the Board about applications for large housing developments in the same manner as currently applies in respect of planning applications submitted to the local planning authority or appealed to the Board.

In relation to the rental sector, the Bill proposes amendments to the Residential Tenancies Acts. One of the most significant proposals provides that, where a landlord proposes to sell multiple units within a single multi-unit development at the same time, the sale will be subject to the existing tenants remaining in situ.The purpose of this provision is to prevent a future recurrence of situations where numbers of residents in a single development have had their tenancies terminated simultaneously .

The Bill further improves security of tenure for tenants by providing for the abolition of a landlord’s right, during the first 6 months of a further Part 4 tenancy, to terminate that tenancy for no stated ground. This is an important amendment and one that has been welcomed both by those working with tenants and those working to prevent homelessness. It also provides for a number of other early actions which will enhance the Residential Tenancies Board’s enforcement and dispute resolution powers, including accelerated dispute resolution timeframes.

As committed to in Rebuilding Ireland, the provisions in the Bill will be supplemented by a new Rental Strategy, which I am launching today with a view to delivering a mature and stable rental sector, providing a balance between the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants.