Balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and this priority is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040. This strategic plan includes the National Planning Framework (NPF), which sets the overarching spatial strategy for the next twenty years, along with the revised National Development Plan 2021-30 (NDP) which was published in 2021. Over the lifetime of the NDP, this Government will be investing €165 billion in new and upgraded infrastructure that will meet the needs of our growing population. An additional €2.25 billion of windfall corporate tax receipts has also been allocated from 2024 to 2026, to provide funding for critical infrastructure projects that are at an advanced stage.
Ensuring close alignment between the NDP and the NPF is necessary in order to accommodate a far bigger population by 2040 across Ireland's three regional assembly areas. The three Regional Assemblies (Eastern and Midlands Region, Northern and Western Region and Southern Region) are responsible for co-ordinating, promoting and supporting the strategic planning and sustainable development of their regions, by formulating Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES).
The RSES's identify regional assets, opportunities and pressures and provides appropriate policy responses in the form of Regional Policy Objectives.
The principal purpose of the RSESs is to support the implementation of Project Ireland 2040, and the economic policies and objectives of the Government by providing a long-term strategic planning and economic framework for the development of the regions. The RSESs support the growth strategy outlined in Project Ireland 2040 and seek to facilitate balanced regional development, focused on the five cities and five smaller regional growth centres, in order to support economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and climate action across all regions.
As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I did not have a role in the revisions to NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions referred to by the Deputy. Any queries in relation to this matter should be referred to my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
