Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2017
267. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position in the event that the Houses of the Oireachtas do not vote in affirmation of the national planning framework as approved by the Government; and if there will be scope for amendments to the initial plan and-or future iterations by the Houses of the Oireachtas. [44381/17]
View answer268. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the length of time he plans to give the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government to scrutinise the final draft of the national planning framework before submitting it to all Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas for a vote; and if members of the committee will have an opportunity to make amendments to the final draft of the plan after it is approved by Cabinet. [44382/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together.
The Government places a high degree of value on Oireachtas guidance and input into the finalisation of the National Planning Framework, and has clearly signalled its intention to honour the spirit of the new legislative provisions underpinning the Framework proposed in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2017, which is currently at Dáil Report Stage. This is being given effect through engaging proactively with Deputies and Senators to gather views and perspectives on the final draft of the Framework which was approved for publication by the Government at the end of September for consideration in finalising the Framework before the end of the year.
Extensive stakeholder and public consultation has already been undertaken at national, regional and local level since the NPF preparations began in 2014 to ensure early input and buy-in at community and citizen level, as well as with key policy-makers and representative organisations. Over 30 workshops and regional and local seminars were held over Summer/Autumn 2016 to prompt and inform debate and a shared sense of ownership of Ireland 2040. A further 9 regional road-show events were organised during the formal initial 8-week public consultation process in February/March 2017, which generated nearly 700 detailed submissions which were considered fully. The NPF has also been the subject of earlier discussion at a number of Oireachtas Committee sessions.
The period of this final public consultation process closes on 3 November, acknowledging the importance of having the adopted Framework in place as early as possible to set a locational and policy context for the adoption of the Government’s 10-year National Investment Plan, also to be finalised before the year-end, as well as supporting wider joined-up strategies in a range of priority policy areas such as housing, economic development and climate change. I believe that the period for the final round of consultation, up to 3 November, provides adequate time for consideration of the draft NPF and for the making of submissions. I know that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government is already progressing its consideration of the NPF and, in that context, I had an opportunity to meet with the Committee on 18 October. I look forward to considering carefully all submissions received through the consultation process.
It is also important to note that enactment of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill will establish the NPF on a statutory footing, putting in place, through the new Office of the Planning Regulator, a regular process, including Oireachtas involvement, of monitoring, review and updating of the Framework and its successor strategies, much as in the manner of local authority development plans. In addition, the processes to develop the supporting Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies in each of the three regions has already begun and this work is targeted for completion before the end of 2018.
