Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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268. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the new section 28 guidelines for apartment developments will be published; his views on whether it was a mistake to announce the intention to change the guidelines so far in advance of their implementation; and if this has had an impact on the number of new planning applications for apartment development being lodged. [52455/17]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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269. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department, or a body under its aegis, has undertaken research of the effect of changes to section 28 guidelines for apartment standards on planning permission applications for new developments; and if there is evidence that changes to the guidelines, such as those on minimum size standards introduced in December 2015 lead to a number of applications being withdrawn. [52456/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.

My Department is not aware of any significant withholding of applications or withdrawals as a result of the introduction of the Guidelines in 2015.  The intention of the focussed review of the current Guidelines is to examine the scope for any further planning measures that could be deployed in relation to the viability of apartment development in our cities and towns, in the context of achieving more compact urban development. 

I have therefore recently established a working group, whose role is to undertake a focused, time-bound review to ensure the maximum continuity of new apartment proposals coming forward for consideration, commensurate with the need to address technical aspects in need of adjustment in light of the practical experience in the application of existing 2015 Guidelines, with a view to encouraging greater supply.  It has held several meetings to date and formed a number of sub-groups to examine specific elements in relation to apartment planning and building height policies.

The work of the group is scheduled to conclude in the coming weeks with the aim to update both the 2015 Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments – Guidelines for Planning Authorities and the 2007 Development Plans - Guidelines for Planning Authorities, both of which are available at the following links:

www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/apartment_guidelines_21122015.pdf.  www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/NationalSpatialStrategy/FileDownLoad%2C14468%2Cen.pdf. 

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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270. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the minimum permitted size for a bedroom in terms of floor area, defined as the location in which a person or persons sleep, under statutory provisions; and the minimum permitted bedroom size for the private rented sector if different. [52457/17]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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271. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the minimum permitted size for ceiling height for occupied dwellings, not just new dwellings; and the minimum permitted ceiling height for the private rented sector if different. [52458/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.

My Department’s publication Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities (2007) for local authorities, sets out the principles and criteria that are important in the design of social housing, in order to facilitate the delivery of better homes, better neighbourhoods and better urban spaces. The guidelines provide appropriate guidance on space requirements and room sizes in both dwellings and apartments, having regard to the number of potential occupants, to facilitate the provision of good quality living environments for residents.  It should be noted that these are guidelines not regulatory requirements and local authorities themselves have, in some cases, set minimum space requirements for houses within their local county/city development plans.

The apartment minimum sizes specified in the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments - Guidelines for Planning Authorities, published in December 2015, are mandatory for all local authorities. The sizes for 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments are not new standards but a restatement of the minimum apartment sizes for such apartments set out in previous statutory guidelines published in 2007.

In relation to floor to ceiling height, all new buildings and extensions or material alterations to existing buildings must comply with the legal minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2017. Guidance on minimum floor to ceiling height of generally 2.4m is given in relation to ventilation. In addition, it is a specific planning policy requirement that ground level apartment floor to ceiling heights shall be a minimum of 2.7m. Applicants and their designers should consider the potential for increasing floor-to-ceiling heights where practicable.

All landlords have a legal duty to ensure that their rented properties comply with certain minimum physical standards. These minimum standards are set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017. Whilst these regulations do not specify minimum room sizes or floor to ceiling heights, they specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and safety of gas and electrical supply so that tenants are provided with safe, healthy and comfortable dwellings.