Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 February 2010
598 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he will take to review the regional planning guidelines for the Cork and Kerry region in view of the empty units in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7014/10]
View answerThe Planning and Development (Regional Planning Guidelines) Direction 2008 which issued on 19 December 2008 under section 21 of the Planning Acts, instructed regional authorities to review and update Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs) for their regions. The review and update is due to be completed with the adoption of new RPGs within each region by mid-2010, including for the south-west region. These guidelines will set a strategic planning framework for development plans within each regional authority area over the 12-year period from 2010 to 2022.
The Planning and Development Act requires that the RPGs must address, inter alia, projected population trends and in this context the 2004 RPGs, having regard to the population scenarios set out in the National Spatial Strategy, proposed population distributions for key urban centres in the respective regions in order to guide development within the overall regional and national strategic policy framework.
To inform the review process and assist regional authorities, my Department published new national population projections in January 2009 including regional population targets for the years 2010, 2016 and 2022 which take account of the changed economic climate and the likely impact of reduced in-migration, rising unemployment and a more constrained financial situation on demographic trends. In October 2009, my Department published specific Gateway and Hub population targets which were derived from the January 2009 national and regional population targets.
It is a matter for each Regional Authority together with the constituent City and County Councils to determine population targets for county towns, other smaller towns, villages and rural areas, within their respective regional targets, which will in turn inform the demand for housing over the period and the requirements for development land, taking account of such matters as available vacant housing units within their area.
