Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department regularly monitors the planning process and acts to ensure that 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 Areasencourage 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.

Permissible building heights in different parts of the Dublin City Council Area are set out in Chapter 16 of the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022, available at the following link: .

My Department is currently at an advanced stage of completing a residential development cost review, which is due to be finalised later this month. This review is examining the key aspects of viability issues, including building height limitations, and will inform my approach to further policy development on the matters involved.