Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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564. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the progress of the working group established to review sustainable rural housing guidelines following the Flemish decree; if the reports prepared by it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46714/19]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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579. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of work of the working group he set up following the Flemish decree case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46372/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 564 and 579 together.

Following engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, a working group was established to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The working group comprises senior officials from the Planning Division of my Department and senior officials from the Planning Divisions of local authorities, nominated by the local government sector.

Taking account of the engagement with the European Commission regarding revisions to the 2005 Rural Housing Guidelines and subject to the completion of the ongoing deliberations by the working group, I will be in a position to finalise and issue to planning authorities revisions to the 2005 Guidelines that take account of the relevant European Court of Justice judgment.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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565. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the requirement for allotments to be provided with new housing developments being incorporated into the planning system here in view of the community interest in same and the benefits in terms of sustainability and self-sufficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46019/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Policy objectives in relation to the provision of allotments are already incorporated into the Irish planning system. Part I of the First Schedule to the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, (the Act) sets out purposes for which objectives may be indicated in a Development Plan.

This part of the Act specifically provides for "Reserving land for use and cultivation as allotments and regulating, promoting, facilitating or controlling the provision of land for that use".

It is matter for local elected members of City and County Councils, in determining their Development Plans to decide whether to reserve land in accordance with Part 1 of the First Schedule to the Act.

City and County Development Plans must provide a strategic framework for the proper planning and sustainable development of the administrative area of the local authority and must be consistent with longer term planning and sustainable development aims, including those in the National Planning Framework (NPF).

This means that City and County Plans must carefully balance key principles such as securing compact and sustainable urban growth, which means reusing previously developed ‘brownfield’ land, building up infill sites and either reusing or redeveloping existing sites and buildings, in well serviced urban locations with also providing for amenities and the promotion of healthy communities and lifestyle choices, which may be facilitated by the provision of allotments, at some locations.