Dr. Cathal FitzGerald:

We looked at the national planning framework and the extent to which it sort of provided the overall vision for a transport-oriented development. In setting this out there are statements around compact growth, use of brownfield sites and sustainable mobility objectives. I suppose that although it is on a statutory basis and legislative footing etc., we are expecting it to sit on the top of a hierarchy of plans, with its vision flowing down through the myriad of plans below it at regional assembly level and with the National Transport Authority plans for the greater Dublin area, as well as local authorities. It is probably not enough in terms of actual implementation. We must go to the lower-level plans to see the extent to which they set out where a transport-oriented development will be, what the density and mix will be, for example, or how this is to be funded. Rather than making a criticism of the national planning framework, this is a comment on the extent to which it relies on a hierarchical trickle of authority into those other plans.

An important finding is that there should be a good and fair assessment of what is compact growth on new greenfield or brownfield sites. We should consider whether brownfield sites fit the definition. The council in its most recent report has said we must look again at how we assess, designate and monitor sites to ensure the targets within the national planning framework are being complied with.