The initial public consultation phase of the National Planning Framework process is underway until 16 March next. The NPF will be a high level, long term spatial framework that will cover the period to 2040. The output of the consultation phase, together with consideration of the full Census 2016 results in April, will feed into a draft National Planning Framework document, to be published prior to the Summer.
As the Deputy will be aware, the current NPF consultation phase is running in tandem with the commencement of a mid-term review of the Government’s Capital Plan to 2021. On the basis of the initial public consultation, a draft NPF will be prepared and it is my Department’s intention to develop this draft in sufficient time that it will be available to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to input into the mid-term review of the Capital Plan. My Department is liaising closely with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in co-ordinating the preparations for both the National Planning Framework and the Capital Review.
In relation to specific individual projects for consideration under the Capital Plan review, it also needs to be borne in mind that many of these projects have been proposed for some years and can be considered by reference to the existing planning frameworks such as the National Spatial Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines.
However, recognising the long lead-in times for major infrastructure delivery, my Department understands that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform intends to develop a longer term perspective on infrastructure requirements beyond the mid-term review of the Capital Plan to 2021 and the development of both the National Planning Framework and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies will put in place planning and economic development frameworks as a very clear context for such long-run capital investment decision making.
In this context, the Taoiseach, in his recent address to the Institute of European Affairs, 'Ireland at the heart of a changing European Union,' reaffirmed that the new National Planning Framework for spatial planning due to be finalised later this year will be complemented with a long-term (i.e. 10 year) capital plan.
Therefore, I am confident that the Government is well positioned to ensure an effective plan-led approach to infrastructure delivery that will meet our country’s needs over the decades ahead.
