National Planning Framework

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 December 2016

Thursday, 8 December 2016

Questions (2)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

2. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, in view of the fact that her Department is represented on the national planning framework, NPF, steering committee and participates in discussions at the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, Environment and Climate Action, and that she also participates on the econometric and demographics working group, she will provide a detailed report on the issues she has raised and an update on the progress made; her Department’s plans in terms of the NPF; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39276/16]

Oral answers (10 contributions)

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan

I raised this issue with the Minister previously in the context of Brexit and the regional action plans for jobs and I am still concerned about the apparent lack of co-ordinated thinking from the Minister or her officials on the importance of national spatial planning to job creation, economic development-----

Acting Chairman (Deputy Maria Bailey)

Will the Deputy stand a little closer to the microphone?

Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Perhaps he could speak a little louder.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Maria Bailey)

The Minister cannot hear the Deputy.

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan

I will start again. I raised this issue with the Minister before in the context of Brexit and the eight regional action plans and I am still concerned about the apparent lack of co-ordinated thinking from the Minister or her officials on the importance of a national spatial strategy to job creation, economic development and to the efforts to foster enterprise and attract investment. Brexit is a game-changer that has undoubtedly made the need for a national development strategy all the more pressing and urgent. I am concerned that the Minister does not appear to be on top of the issue or to realise how significant it is. Just last week, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced she intends to trigger the start of Britain's exist from the European Union by the end of March of next year. Will the Minister comment?

Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor

The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is currently preparing the National Planning Framework, NPF, which is a 20 year strategy for the spatial development of Ireland. My Department, at official level, is a member of the interdepartmental national planning framework steering committee and the NPF’s econometric and demographics working group. The NPF has also been the subject of discussions at the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, Environment and Climate Action, of which I am a member.

My Department is contributing to the development of the NPF, based on Enterprise 2025, regarding a number of aspects.

We have raised a number of issues, including the strong interdependence between the planning and the creation of an attractive environment and enterprise development; the need for a robust, evidence-based NPF to ensure that Ireland’s growth ambitions are achieved; that enterprises and entrepreneurship play a central role in job creation in the regions; the need to identify and address the different advantages and development potential of each region whether in, for example, services, manufacturing or agrifood sectors; and the importance of prioritising infrastructure investment to support economic development and to address gaps in required combinations of roads, water, energy and broadband and skills to boost growth.

In terms of progress, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has indicated that it will take on board the submissions made by this Department as the NPF is progressed.

I understand that an emerging draft NPF will be prepared by early 2017 and that the framework will be submitted to the Oireachtas for approval in due course.

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan

I thank the Minister for her response. I wish to stress the importance of Brexit for the country. I reiterate that the British Prime Minister announced that she will trigger Brexit in March of next year, which is not that far away. She is talking about a red, white and blue Brexit, but everyone, whether it is reports I have read or people I have spoken to, speaks about a black Brexit. That is what this will mean for Ireland. There will no winners in Ireland. There is the potential for a number of small opportunities that we must seize, but we will not seize them if we do not invest in critical infrastructure. I do not believe the Minister is doing enough to fight for these infrastructure projects or to ensure that we make the best of any opportunity that presents itself.

Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Last month I stressed that we got an extra €50 million in the budget, so we now have €550 million for capital expenditure. We also got an extra €3 million for current expenditure. I assure the Deputy that I am fighting good and hard to ensure that we have a really good response to Brexit. I have mentioned the enterprise agencies already.

Enterprise Ireland has engaged with all of its 1,400 companies. It has identified which of them are weak and tried to ensure solutions are available to them. For example, it helps companies to diversify and find new markets abroad and has beefed up its trade missions. In addition to this work, IDA Ireland, the local enterprise offices and InterTradeIreland are also doing work in this area. We are fully engaged with the task of ensuring Irish companies secure the best deal. Some of them will find this difficult and many will face challenges but there will be pluses for others. We will try to attract more companies to locate in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland is helping indigenous companies.

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan

I will meet officials from Enterprise Ireland later this afternoon. I reiterate that Brexit will be triggered in three months and the Department must be proactive and take an all-Ireland approach to the issue of regional development in the context of the national spatial strategy. We urgently need investment, infrastructure and capital projects if we are to achieve any semblance of balanced and sustainable regional development. If we are to create jobs, an integrated approach must be taken, one which deals with housing, infrastructure, public services and economic growth in a holistic manner.

I do not recall the Minister ever speaking about youth unemployment, the skills deficit or the need for a national training and apprenticeship scheme. We should consider Brexit as an opportunity to prioritise the growth of indigenous companies and a chance to finally address the issues of uneven development and regional inequality in all their manifestations. For this reason, I ask the Minister to report back on the progress of the regional action plans, on which she undertook previously to provide a report. I also ask her to keep the House updated on the Department's input to the national spatial strategy.

Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor

We will publish the 2016 report on the Action Plan for Jobs and regional action plans for jobs. As I indicated, I have travelled around the country and we are hearing good news in respect of the Action Plan for Jobs. The Deputy referred to skills and indicated he had never heard me speak about them. Having often visited Limerick, I believe he will have heard me speak about skills because the issue features prominently in every speech I make.

When we visited China, Japan and the United States I was continually reminded of the importance of skills. I hear the same message on my visits to indigenous companies, including the company I visited today in Cherrywood.

The Department is working with the institutes of technology, universities and skills forum, all of which are represented on the implementation groups for the Action Plan for Jobs. Their voices are being heard. As a former school principal, I assure the Deputy that I know how important education will be in ensuring our children are ready to take up the new jobs coming down the track.