Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2018
626. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if carbon reduction and fuel poverty proofing has been carried out to prioritise investments outlined in the national planning framework, NPF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10876/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Planning Framework (NPF), published together with the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 on 16 February 2018, sets out an ambitious high-level national vision for Ireland for 2040 and provides the framework and principles to manage future population and economic growth over the next 20 years, catering for around 1 million extra people, 660,000 extra jobs and 550,000 extra homes.
The NPF is underpinned and was informed by a comprehensive analytical, public participation and environmental assessment-based approach. The evidence base underpinning the NPF and its finalisation after the publication of the consultation draft includes the ESRI Research study, titled Prospects for Irish Regions and Counties: Scenarios and Implications, which is available on the ESRI's website at the following link: http://www.esri.ie/publications/prospects-for-irish-regions-and-counties-scenarios-and-implications/.
Finalisation of the NPF was also necessarily informed by the extensive public consultation process conducted at draft stage, which included over 1,000 submissions, formal engagements with the Oireachtas and interaction with key stakeholders. Crucially, the NPF was also informed by a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), with the SEA statement including a screening of changes made between the publication of the public consultation draft and the final Framework as published by the Government.
The NPF has dedicated a section to Resource Efficiency and Transition to a Low Carbon Economy and includes a specific National Policy Objective to "Reduce our carbon footprint by integrating climate action into the planning system in support of national targets for climate policy mitigation and adaptation objectives, as well as targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions".
In addition, Project Ireland 2040 provides for €22bn investment in climate action related policies and policy initiatives and implementation of the NPF principles, taking account of wider considerations such as carbon reduction and fuel poverty, are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment.
