Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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At its core, Housing for All seeks to significantly increase the supply of quality, affordable housing. To this end, it includes a range of measures to ensure a balanced delivery of homes for private ownership, social housing and private rental over its lifetime, including apartments for rent and sale.

Since its launch in 2021, there has been a substantial uplift in the quantum of new homes being delivered, with more than 29,700 and 32,600 homes delivered in 2022 and 2023 respectively, significantly above each year's target. This increase in delivery shows we're clearly on the right track.

Croí Cónaithe (Cities) is a key measure to support delivery of new apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. It aims to bridge the current 'viability gap' between the build cost and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater), and targets delivery of some 5,000 new apartments for sale in the coming years.

The scheme launched in May 2022, with two formal calls for expression of interest in the period since. Five contracts have been signed already to deliver 582 units in Cork and Dublin. The remaining proposals under both calls are currently being assessed by the Housing Agency.

A third call for expressions of interest will issue later this year.

Moreover, amended ‘Sustainable Urban Housing Guidelines: Design Standards for New Apartments’ planning guidelines were introduced in December 2022. As a result, the separate planning application category designating Build to Rent apartments as a separate development type, with specific design standards, has been amended. This means all apartment developments, irrespective of the intended end-user, must be designed to the same minimum standards.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of amenities and services is a core element of the statutory plan-making process and is key to promoting the development of balanced and sustainable communities. Section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires planning authorities to include objectives in their development plan to integrate social, community and cultural objectives with planning for residential and other development. The section further provides that objectives must also be included for the preservation, improvement and extension of amenities and recreational amenities.

The local authority Development Plan is the principal planning strategy document which sets out the relevant policies and objectives to guide the physical development of each city and county over a six-year period. Through the Development Plan, planning authorities include relevant objectives, policy support and development management standards for amenities and services (including within new residential developments), as well as identifying suitable locations for such facilities on a stand-alone basis through the zoning of land for recreation, social and community uses.

My Department has provided formal guidance to planning authorities on the preparation of Development Plans through the Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2022). These guidelines were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and planning authorities are required to have regard to them in the performance of their functions. More recently, in January 2024 additional ministerial guidance was provided through the publication of the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines. The making of a Development Plan is a reserved function of the elected members of each planning authority.

In addition, pursuant to section 48 of the 2000 Act, a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála may attach a condition to a grant of planning permission requiring the payment of a contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities that it is intended will be provided, by or on behalf of a local authority. This may include for open spaces, and recreational and community facilities. The basis for such contributions is set out in a development contribution scheme as adopted by the elected members.

Furthermore, under section 213 of the Act, a local authority is empowered, for the purposes of performing any of its functions (including giving effect to, or facilitating the implementation of, its Development Plan), to acquire land, permanently or temporarily, by agreement or compulsorily.

In accordance with section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001, local authorities are independent in the performance of their functions and I have no role in relation to the planning or provision of amenities and services in individual local authority areas.