Written Answers Nos. 420-433
420. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to publish the updated housing targets for Housing for All based on ESRI modelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16633/24]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No.2 of 11 April 2024, which sets out the position on the matter.
424. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for publishing the new water services policy statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16637/24]
View answerThe Water Services Policy Statement 2024-2030 was noted by Government on 30 January 2024, laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, and published on 23 February 2024.
A copy of the Water Services Policy Statement 2024-2030 can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/443cc-water-services-policy-statement-2024-2030/
425. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for publishing 'first right of refusal' legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16638/24]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 15 of 11 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.
426. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for publishing the review of Part B of the Building Regulations (Fire Safety); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16639/24]
View answerIn line with Action 96 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update and Q3 2023 Progress Report and following the completion of a review of Part B of the Building Regulations, I signed the Building Regulations (Part B Amendment) Regulations 2024 on 26 March 2024. These Regulations amend Part B (Fire Safety) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997 to update fire safety requirements for buildings other than dwelling houses and apply from 1 May 2025 subject to the transitional arrangements cited.
To accompany the Regulations, the following documents have been published and are now available on my Department’s website:
• Technical Guidance Document B 2024 – Fire Safety - Volume 1: Buildings other than dwelling houses (TGD B 2024)
• Final Regulatory Impact Analysis - Review of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations (March 2024)
• Information Note on Alternative Approaches to Demonstrate Compliance with the Building Regulations
The Government publishes quarterly Housing for All progress reports, which detail the progress made on all Housing for All actions and policy objectives that have a delivery timeline relevant to publication. These can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/9d2ee-housing-for-all-quarterly-progress-reports/.
430. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the viability of the use of Cathal Brugha Barracks for residential development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16643/24]
View answerUnder the Housing for All strategy, all Government Departments were asked to examine their land portfolio to assess the suitability and potential of vacant or underutilised land for housing.
The potential of Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines to be made available for housing has been raised on several occasions over recent years. The Barracks was identified in the Land Development Agency’s (LDA) Report on Relevant Public Lands published in March 2023, as a site which could yield up to 1,000 homes. The site's potential is identified within the report as 'Class 3', i.e. with numerous complex constraints, located within a conservation area and protected structures on site.
A process to comprehensively assess the potential and viability of the Cathal Brugha Barracks site for residential development was agreed between the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the Department of Defence, and my Department to consider the viability of the relocation of the Barracks and its operations to repurpose the site as residential.
A cost benefit analysis and feasibility study was agreed to be carried out by the Department of Defence, with involvement from the Defence Forces, to assess the viability of relocating existing core Defence Forces operations/functions carried out within Cathal Brugha Barracks to an alternative location, as well as exploring the potential of reorganising/reconfiguring current operations/functions within the footprint of Cathal Brugha Barracks.
In parallel with this feasibility study, work was undertaken, led by the LDA, on an initial evaluation of the potential for the site to be repurposed for residential development and/or other uses, to create a new sustainable community considering the high level capacity and potential and a high level cost benefit analysis.
The outcomes of these two studies are being assessed and collated by a cross departmental working group and I understand that recommendations will be made to Government shortly.
431. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the introduction of the new e-planning platform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16645/24]
View answerIn line with Action 46 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update & Q3 2023 Progress Report, the deployment and roll-out, of ePlanning continues and is now fully integrated into 24 planning authorities and partially integrated into 3 planning authorities.
The ePlanning portal may be accessed at planning.localgov.ie/en/local-government-ireland-planning-system.
The Government publishes quarterly Housing for All progress reports, which detail the progress made on all Housing for All actions and policy objectives that have a delivery timeline relevant to the publication. These can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/9d2ee-housing-for-all-quarterly-progress-reports/.
