Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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267. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the current zoning regulations and restrictions on tiny homes; if he has considered easing restrictions on the minimum dwelling space requirements for tiny homes and one-off or small groups of low-impact tiny house developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8053/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the Tiny House concept, it is should be noted that such developments do not meet current Irish residential space standards and are significantly smaller than the minimum permissible floor area for a studio apartment, as detailed in the Design Standards for New Apartments - Guidelines for Planning Authorities document, most recently updated in December 2020 to reflect changes in co-living policy.

While not meeting minimum floor areas standards, tiny houses would give rise to the normal requirements for access and services, such as water and drainage, and related issues relating to the residential amenity enjoyed by the prospective residents. Current standards have been carefully considered to form a balance between the need to ensure a high standard of residential amenity while facilitating the provision of new housing development and following the updated guidance published in 2020, I have no further plans to change the standards at this time.

However, my Department continues to liaise with local authorities and other key stakeholders on a range of different planning matters including, where appropriate, the promotion of new housing types that reflect the changing demographics of our population and to provide further choice for prospective homeowners.