Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2021
76. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which national policy objective 58 in the national planning framework (details supplied) is being overseen and implemented; if he will provide a progress report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12381/21]
View answer77. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which regional planning objective 7.22 of the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (details supplied) is being overseen and implemented; if he will provide a progress report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12382/21]
View answer78. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which regional planning objective 7.23 of the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (details supplied) is being overseen and implemented; if he will provide a progress report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12383/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 77 and 78 together.
The National Planning Framework (NPF) sits at the top of a hierarchy of statutory spatial development plans, the purpose of which is to ensure the sustainable development of urban and rural areas, secure balanced regional development and to support and co-ordinate proper planning and development throughout Ireland. This national-level planning policy is implemented at the regional level through statutory Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES) for each of the three Regional Assembly areas.
Subsequent to the NPF, a RSES was accordingly prepared by the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) and formally adopted in June 2019. Section 25A of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended requires relevant specified public bodies, and each local authority within the Regional Assembly area, to prepare and submit a report to the Regional Assembly every 2 years, setting out progress made in supporting the objectives set out in the Strategy that are relevant to that body.
Further to this, the Regional Assembly must prepare a monitoring report every 2 years to report on progress made in implementing its RSES, including in relation to actions specific to the relevant public bodies, and submit the report to the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC). Following consideration of the monitoring report, the Commission may make recommendations to the Minister in relation to relevant measures to further support the implementation of the RSES.
The first EMRA RSES monitoring report is currently being prepared by the Regional Assembly for publication in June 2021. Following the finalisation of the RSESs, all local authorities have commenced, or are shortly to commence, the statutory review of their County or City Development Plan and this process will be ongoing in 2022. In accordance with Section 12 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, it is a statutory obligation of each local authority to ensure that the County Development Plan is consistent with the national and regional development objectives of the NPF and the relevant RSES. Since April 2019, the assessment of all statutory local authority development plans, including variations to development plans and local area plans, is undertaken by the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR). The statutory oversight role of the OPR includes ensuring that local authority plans are consistent with relevant national and regional policies.
I am satisfied that there is sufficient in-built scope in the current statutory processes, including biannual reporting between the regional assemblies and relevant public bodies and local authorities in monitoring progress in relation to the implementation of the RSES, and the interaction between the county development plans and RSES, to take account of any changes that may be required to reflect and maintain appropriate planning and sustainable principles over the lifetime of the RSES.
