Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1123. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if south Kerry in conjunction with an organisation (details supplied) where the organisation has access to lands locally, can be used as a pilot area for the development of cluster type housing and community housing with services in order to provide urgently needed housing in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44720/25]

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The National Planning Framework (NPF) fully supports the sustainable development of rural areas and the need to ensure that they continue to be viable places to live in. In particular, National Policy Objective 27 of the NPF ensures continued support of programmes for ‘new homes in small towns and villages’.

County development plans (CDPs) provide the strategic and statutory planning framework for such housing proposals to be developed and implemented at a local level. As part of their overall Core Strategy, CDPs provide locally developed policies to support and facilitate the growth of new housing in rural areas including appropriate new homes within their network of villages and smaller rural settlements.

For the development of clusters of new housing within smaller settlements, it is important to consider the type of appropriate infrastructural options that may be available to support growth in these locations. Any such infrastructure options would have to be fully compliant with environmental requirements and developed in accordance with the appropriate specifications, for example, where necessary, specifications required by Uisce Éireann.

With regard to the specific matter of a specific pilot development in partnership with an individual landowner, it should be noted that the operation of the planning system is a matter for the planning authorities. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended the Minister shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Commission is or may be concerned. In addition, local authorities have other statutory roles and functions under the Local Government Act 2001 and the Housing Acts.

I would therefore suggest that the Deputy engages with Kerry County Council on the matter in question.