Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 57:

In page 44, lines 6 and 7, to delete "regional planning guidelines (being guidelines" and substitute "regional spatial and economic strategy (being a strategy".

The amendments in this grouping provide for regional spatial and economic strategies in place of the regional planning guidelines, the formulation of which will be the main function of the new regional assemblies. This will ensure the full integration between planning and economic development through coherent regional spatial and economic strategies and these will be formulated by new regional assemblies in collaboration, in particular, with the various enterprise and economic development agencies. This will deliver integrated national and regional co-ordination in spatial planning and economic development in order to provide a broad framework underpinning the enhanced role of local government in economic development.

Among the main changes to the planning Acts are those made by the following amendments. Under amendment No. 120 the new regional assemblies are being provided with the power to make regional spatial and economic strategies in place of regional planning guidelines, thus providing for a strengthened economic dimension. It provides for the insertion of a new section 22A to provide for the necessary consultation, assistance and co-operation by all relevant public bodies, namely the key Departments, such as that of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, including bodies under their aegis with regional assemblies in the preparation of regional spatial and economic strategies including support and follow through in the implementation of those strategies. There will therefore be a statutory requirement on all relevant public bodies and agencies to participate fully in the adoption of the regional strategies and critically to follow through in their own functions on the measures to which they have subscribed in their strategies. It also provides that in preparing their own strategies, plans and programmes, all relevant public bodies at national, regional and local level must ensure they are consistent with the national regional objectives set out in the national spatial strategy and the regional spatial and economic strategies. This is to ensure that both the regional assemblies and the relevant public bodies engaging in a process of dialogue and policy development in the formulation of the regional spatial and economic strategies while also informing each other in a two way process that will result in clearer more integrated policies and actions. This will deliver improved co-ordination of the regional economic development policies and investment across the State and private sector in general.

It also provides for the strengthened economic dimension in the content and objectives of regional spatial and economic strategies, including the requirement to support the economic policies and objectives of the Government in this regard. For example, it provides that a regional economic strategy will address inter alia enhancement of overall regional economic performance by identifying the strengths and opportunities, having regard to economic and employment trends; proposals for augmenting the economic performance of the region across all relevant economic sectors; enhancement of regional innovation capacity, including investment in research and development.

It will also address proposals for augmenting the economic performance of the region across all relevant economic sectors; enhancement of regional innovation capacity, including investment in research and development; identifying the regional attributes most essential to enhancing regional economic performance, such as the quality of the environment, qualities of cities and towns, the infrastructure, and the social, community and cultural facilities; and proposals to maintain and-or augment such attributes in such a manner as will be implemented under the strategy through the activities of relevant public bodies, private sector investment and the community. It also provides for the insertion of a new section 25A to provide for reporting every two years on progress on implementation of the strategies by the public bodies, by each local authority and the regional assemblies. Together with an important role for the National Oversight and Audit Commission, it will make recommendations to the Minister on the relevant measures to further support implementation of the strategies.

It provides for the insertion of a new section 268A to provide for transitional provisions consequent on the enactment of the Local Government Bill, such as providing for a successor authority consequent on the dissolution of certain local authorities and the town councils; providing for all acts duly done and decisions duly made continuing to have all such force and effect; and providing for the purpose of completing any matter outstanding by the planning authority for the local government area concerned as the successor authority. It also provides, in section 21, for transitional arrangements in order that the existing regional planning guidelines 2010-22 prepared and published by a dissolved regional authority shall continue to have effect until a regional, spatial and economic strategy is prepared and adopted by the new regional assembly.

Amendments Nos. 147 to 169 are consequential amendments to the provision of regional, spatial and economic strategies in place of the regional planning guidelines. These consequential amendments are to provide primarily for: the substitution of regional assembly for regional authority; regional spatial and economic strategy instead of regional planning guidelines; and the National Transport Authority, NTA, for the Dublin Transport Authority, DTA, on foot of the change in name to the NTA pursuant to section 30 of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, with effect from 1 December 2009. Accordingly, amendments Nos. 147 to 149 provide for an updated definition for the Dublin Transport Authority and an associated new definition for the National Transport Authority. Amendments Nos. 57 to 59 and 113 are accordingly providing for consequential amendments to sections 35 and 57 of the Local Government Bill to provide for the substitution of regional, spatial and economic strategy for regional planning guidelines.