Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Part V mechanism is intended to achieve integrated development and reduce housing segregation by facilitating a mix of a tenure types - social, affordable and cost rental housing. The Ministerial Guidelines on Part V issued to local authorities under section 28 of the 2000 Act, emphasise the need for consultation with developers regarding the delivery of appropriately located properties at the earliest stage possible, preferably in advance of planning.

This early consultation allows local authorities to consider the need, and the likely future need, for housing for persons who have different levels of income, as well as the need to ensure that a mixture of house types and sizes is developed to reasonably match the requirements of the different categories of households, as may be determined by the local authority.

While Part V negotiations are a matter for the relevant local authority operating within the Guidelines, the need to counteract undue segregation in housing between persons of different social backgrounds is a specific requirement of local authorities provided in the 2000 Act. In this way, local authorities preference is that social housing in a large development is “pepper- potted” throughout rather than being concentrated in one particular area. There are a range of funding programmes available to local authorities to support achieving such a mix of tenure types in the context of Part V. However, neither I or my Department have a role in the process of the local authority reaching an agreement with a developer, the details of which, is also dependent on the characteristics of the development itself.