Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I might try to reply to all of the points raised. With reference to Deputy Ó Broin's point on the deferral of the approval of the revised national planning framework, that is the case, and the Government decided that today. Pursuant to section 20C(5)(b) of the Planning and Development Act, as amended, the Government has published a statement explaining why the Government has decided not to revise the framework. The statement also includes a revised timeline. The revised timeline for the revision process will involve publication of the draft revised NPF and accompanying technical assessments for a national public consultation in June 2024. This will be followed by an amendment stage in August 2024 for review and consideration of the submissions received and the application of any relevant amendments. A finalised document will be published, subject to approval, in September 2024.

With regard to the reasons, revision of the NPF is informed to a significant degree by census data. The postponement of the census in 2021 due to the global pandemic resulted in the delay in publication of crucial census outputs relating to housing and demographics. Members will recall that we had a discussion the last day I was here about the fuller data from the census. Further to census 2022, and in regard to the key drivers to the NPF revision, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has engaged the Economic and Social Research Institute to update its previous projections relating to population growth to 2040 based on demographic and econometric modelling, and having regard to the results of census 2022 and other factors with the potential to influence fertility, mortality and migration trends. In addition, the research will outline projections relating to structural housing demand, having regard to factors such as headship and obsolescence. The ESRI is currently finalising its research with a view to providing a draft report for consideration by the Department in March. Following this, the report will be peer-reviewed and published, and the final report is likely to be available in April 2024.

In light of the extent of the recent demographic change and the implications for future population projections on the structural housing demand, the Government has decided to defer the approval of a draft revised NPF until a full suite of data required to properly consider matters relating to demographics and population projections has been received from the ESRI. Having regard to the above, it is proposed that the revised timeline for the revision process will involve publication of the draft revised NPF and accompanying technical assessment for national public consultation in June 2024. That will be followed by an amendment stage in August 2024, review and consideration of submissions received and the application of relevant amendments. The finalised document will be published subject to approval in September of this year.

Deputy Boyd Barrett specifically referenced biodiversity. It is now the case that the national biodiversity action plan, NBAP, is on a statutory footing. It is going to require Departments to report back to the Minister of the day on their responsibilities in respect of biodiversity, so there is good cross-checking in terms of the NBAP and how it interrelates with development plans. We gave a commitment earlier in this process to also look at the biodiversity requirements in this Bill.

It is also the case that material contraventions need to be considered on their own merits and this has to be compliant with development plans.

It would not be appropriate to materially contravene a development plan to deal with climate-related developments but the plan must include a strategy on environment and climate change. Decisions on any application regarding climate or renewables must be within the development plan, including the strategy on environment as I stated. This is to ensure there is a robustness to the plan in relation to climate and the queries that have been raised.

I cannot remember what Deputy O'Callaghan asked. I do apologise.