Planning and Development Act, 2000

Housing strategies and development plans.

95.—(1) (a) In conjunction with the inclusion of the housing strategy in its development plan, a planning authority shall ensure that sufficient and suitable land is zoned for residential use, or for a mixture of residential and other uses, to meet the requirements of the housing strategy and to ensure that a scarcity of such land does not occur at any time during the period of the development plan.

(b) A planning authority shall include objectives in the development plan in order to secure the implementation of the housing strategy, in particular, any of the matters referred to in section 94 (3), including objectives requiring that a specified percentage of land zoned solely for residential use, or for a mixture of residential and other uses, be made available for the provision of housing referred to in section 94 (4)(a).

(c) Specific objectives as referred to in paragraph (b) may be indicated in respect of each area zoned for residential use, or for a mixture of residential and other uses, and, where required by local circumstances relating to the amount of housing required as estimated in the housing strategy under section 94 (4)(a), different specific objectives may be indicated in respect of different areas, subject to the specified percentage referred to in section 94 (4)(c) not being exceeded.

(d) In order to counteract undue segregation in housing between persons of different social backgrounds, the planning authority may indicate in respect of any particular area referred to in paragraph (c) that there is no requirement for housing referred to in section 94 (4)(a) in respect of that area, or that a lower percentage than that specified in the housing strategy may instead be required.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall prevent any land being developed exclusively for housing referred to in section 94 (4)(a)(i) or (ii).

(3) (a) The report of the manager under section 15 (2) shall include a review of the progress achieved in implementing the housing strategy and, where the report indicates that new or revised housing needs have been identified, the manager may recommend that the housing strategy be adjusted and the development plan be varied accordingly.

(b) The manager of a planning authority shall, where he or she considers that there has been a change in the housing market, or in the regulations made by the Minister under section 100 , that significantly affects the housing strategy, give a report on the matter to the members of the authority and, where he or she considers it necessary, the manager may recommend that the housing strategy be adjusted and the development plan be varied accordingly.