Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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410. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has analysed the optimum mix of social and private housing dwellings in large scale developments such as strategic development zones in terms of social cohesion, the tipping point for private buyers to purchase in such schemes, the average income levels sufficient to attract retail and other pull services; if his attention has been drawn to international evidence in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13020/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, will apply to each individual application or applications for permission for housing in a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), or any other large development, which should lead to 10% social housing in the development in question.

The acquisition of further social housing units, beyond the Part V requirement, in an SDZ or other development is a matter for the relevant housing authority in the first instance, subject to the policy of sustainable communities, which aims to ensure the provision of a choice of house type, size and tenure within a single neighbourhood.

The objective of this policy is to avoid the significant effects of social isolation and limiting of opportunities that can occur with large mono - tenure estates, frequently necessitating significant regeneration and remediation proposals at a later stage, at considerable cost. This policy approach was reaffirmed in the Social Housing Strategy 2020 published in November 2014 which further defined sustainable neighbourhoods as “areas where an efficient use of land, high quality urban design and effective integration in the provision of physical and social infrastructure such as public transport, schools, amenities and other facilities combine to create places people want to live”.

My Department has produced considerable planning guidance, including Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2010) and the Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (2013), to assist local authorities to promote sustainable communities. In addition, the Department guidance document, Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities, seeks to promote quality and value for money in publicly funded housing.