Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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24. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether national planning standards should be set to increase the height of apartment buildings, in view of high break even costs of building apartments and the absence of supply for new apartment buildings despite the high demand. [25039/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department routinely monitors the planning process and acts to ensure it facilitates appropriate multi-unit housing developments to meet the broader housing requirements of society.

My Department’s 2009 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas encourage local authorities to bring about high quality and sustainable urban development, using their development planning and management functions to deliver quality homes and neighbourhoods where people want to live, work and raise families. In particular, the Guidelines outline a range of densities appropriate to different location types, from lower densities at the edges of smaller towns through to densities in the range of a minimum of 50 dwellings per hectare in larger urban areas along public transport corridors.

However, the Guidelines do not set out specific policy advice in relation to height of buildings alone, in isolation from broader location, design and layout considerations nor would it be appropriate to do so, given variability in urban contexts and the inappropriateness of a “one size fits all” height policy for very diverse urban areas. Rather, it is a matter for local authorities to ensure the appropriate application of the Guidelines in their statutory development plan and development management processes.

Notwithstanding the above, my Department is currently in the final stages of completing a cost review of multi-unit and apartment developments, which is due to be finalised later this Summer. This review is examining the key aspects of viability issues, including building height limitations, and will inform further policy development in relation to this matter. In light of the review outcomes, the intention is to engage further with relevant local authorities like Dublin City Council to address any building height issues arising.