Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

38. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on whether his Department's insistence on mixed tenure developments is having a negative consequence on the delivery of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39096/18]

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

The scale and relevant tenure mix for new social housing developments are, in the first case, matters for the relevant local authority, whether those developments are contracted by the authorities themselves or by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) operating in their areas. Central guidance for housing developments is set out in my Department's publication 'Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities' which is available on my Department's website at the following link:

.

This advises, inter alia, that good quality, sustainable housing development should be socially and environmentally appropriate, where the mix of dwelling type, size and tenure should support sound social, environmental and economic sustainability policy objectives and contribute to the integrated development of the areas in which they are located.

This guidance also recommends that in the case of social housing, the mix of dwellings should have regard to the need to achieve a balance in home types, sizes and tenure, but should be based primarily on the results of the most recent assessment of housing need and the characteristics of households likely to be accommodated in the scheme.

I consider that this guidance is appropriate and logical and will contribute to the long-term, sustainable development of communities. In applying this guidance, local authorities or AHBs are not prohibited from developing new schemes of any particular size where they are working within the guidance on sustainable communities. The current portfolio of projects under development includes a wide range of different sized schemes.

A key determinant of the scale of new social housing developments is the consideration of such proposals by elected members of local authorities, through the planning process. I hope that they will continue to support the advancement of such projects by their councils at the required speed and scale.