Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

590. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there are arrangements to zone residential areas exclusively for older persons who may need special arrangements to cater for their changing lives as they progress in years. [29494/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Local authority development plans prepared under Section 9 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) must include objectives for the zoning of land for particular purposes, including residential uses, where and to such an extent as the proper planning and sustainable development of an area requires such uses to be indicated.

While there is no express provision to zone residential development land for specific types of residential development, such as housing for older persons, Section 94 of the Act requires planning authorities to prepare and include a Housing Strategy as part of their statutory development plans. In preparing such Strategies, section 94(3) of the Act requires planning authorities to take into account the need to ensure that a mixture of housing types and sizes is developed to reasonably match the requirements of different categories of households, including the special requirements of older persons and persons with disabilities.

Therefore, where the relevant Housing Strategy so provides, it is open to planning authorities to ensure that housing proposals coming forward in their areas provide a variety of housing types, including for older persons, matching the requirements set out in their housing strategy.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

591. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if an archaeological report has been submitted to his Department further to condition No. 34 of the Louth County Council planning decision No. 08/1, issued on 12 August 2008; if so, if a copy can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29515/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand that planning permission was granted in relation to the development referred to by An Bord Pleanála in May 2009, following a third party appeal to the Board of Louth County Council's previous decision to grant permission for the development concerned. The Board granted permission subject to a number of conditions, which included a requirement for the submission by the developer of an archaeological report to the planning authority, prior to the commencement of work on the development, but not to my Department.

Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned. This is a matter for the Board and Louth County Council and one in which I cannot intervene.