25th September 2001

PRESS RELEASE

CALL FOR BETTER HOUSING QUALITY FROM GREEN PARTY

A call for better design standards has come from the Green Party at the start of a major housing conference in Dublin. The 'New Housing 2001 Conference' has been organised by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, The Irish Planning Institute and the Department of the Environment and Local Government.

Councillor Ciarán Cuffe, an architect and town planner called for 'quality streets' as an alternative to suburban sprawl. He stated that higher density housing must involve better design quality.

"We feel everything from public open space to internal housing layouts could benefit from better design. Green areas could have housing facing onto them and incorporate playgrounds. The houses themselves should reflect the wide range of what is required. This includes providing for single person households or people with disabilities, and PR providing for older parents.

""It is important to show models of best practice, such as traffic calming that makes streets safer for young children, to high performance insulation that reduces energy costs.

The Conference is being held in the Burlington Hotel on Tuesday 25th September 2001.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe, Dáil Candidate

087 265 2075 or 618 3082

Stephen Rawson, Press Officer

087 235 7551 or 618 4088