Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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617. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the publication date for the residential land availability survey 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43872/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department intends to conduct a new strategic national analysis of the extent of residentially zoned land next year to update and expand upon the previous 2014 survey of the extent of lands zoned for housing in statutory development plans and local area plans set out in the table.

Given the focus of housing demand pressures in recent years, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area, and taking account of newer sources of information such as the quarterly Dublin Housing Supply and Co-ordination Task Force reports, providing summaries of lands both zoned and with planning permission in place for housing, it was not deemed necessary to conduct national surveys annually.

However, in light of the wider recovery now underway in the housing supply sector and the intended finalisation of the National Planning Framework, Ireland 2040: Our Plan, later this year, my Department intends to put in place new monitoring systems to support its implementation so as to ensure that the appropriate quantum of zoned and serviced lands is available in the relevant locations to meet strategic development requirements and that the necessary land management and infrastructure delivery arrangements are in place and functional to drive plan-led development.

Such monitoring systems will also be required in connection with the preparation of the three Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies to be adopted by the end of 2018 which will further develop the national planning policies set out in the NPF for a regionally co-ordinated approach to local authority development plans, including their provision of lands for future housing development purposes.

Accordingly, a strategic assessment of lands for housing development purposes will be progressed in the first half of 2018.