James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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634. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the maximum size of new social housing estates; if a previous maximum of 75 dwelling units remains in place; if this limit applies to local authority developments and voluntary housing bodies; his views regarding an application (details supplied) for a development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16572/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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As housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area, for the development of appropriate responses to the need identified, and to create and support sustainable communities.  My Department is supporting local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs) in the provision of social housing across build, lease and acquisition funding programmes.  

There is no prescribed maximum scale or size for new social housing development. In all cases, whether a new housing project is being developed by a local authority or an AHB, the scale and approach to the development is dependent on the precise circumstances and location of the project.  For example, proximity to a range of services is an important factor is assessing the suitable scale of a new development. In every case, it is the local authority that determines this suitability. Furthermore, as part of my Department's funding programmes' approval processes, local authorities are required to confirm in respect of every application, including relating to AHBs projects, that they are satisfied that the project is appropriate to the local area and supports sustainable communities objectives.

In relation to the specific development referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that my Department has not received a funding proposal in respect of such a project from either the local authority or an AHB.