John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

615. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans for building height regulations; when he plans on presenting these proposals to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49238/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department recently published Draft Guidelines for planning authorities for public consultation in relation to how best to encourage increased building height in urban areas.

The Draft Guidelines are intended to set out national planning policy guidelines on building heights in relation to urban areas, as defined by the census, building from the strategic policy framework set out in Project Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework.

These Guidelines:

- develop policy outlined in  the National Planning Framework, in particular National Policy Objectives 1 and 13;

- outline wider and strategic policy considerations and performance criteria that planning authorities should apply, alongside their statutory development plans, in assessing proposals for taller buildings; and

- support the accommodation of anticipated population growth and development needs, whether for housing, employment or other purposes, by building up and consolidating the development of our existing urban areas.

A public consultation on the Draft Guidelines took place from 9 August to 24 September 2018.  A number of submissions were received in the consultation period and these are currently being considered by my Department.  The Guidelines will be finalised in the coming weeks having regard to the submissions received, and will be issued by me under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.