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

This section provides for a new procedure enabling the timely amendment of the regional, spatial and economic strategy so as to make it materially consistent with new or revised national planning policies and measures. The section applies where an amendment to the RSES is necessitated by an issuance of a new or amended national planning statement and is being made to ensure that the RSES is materially consistent with it and the OPR has informed the regional assembly that it is satisfied with the proposed steps. The director of the regional assembly undertakes screening for strategic environment assessment and appropriate assessment in respect of the draft amendment. Where either of the assessments are required, the amendment must proceed with the revision of the regional spatial and economic strategy under section 30. Where the director of the regional assembly determines that neither of the assessments is required, the director proposes the draft amendment to the members for adoption by resolution. The proposed amendment shall be deemed to have been made at the expiration of a period of six weeks from the proposal, unless the members of the regional assembly, within that period, by resolution reject the proposed amendment. Where the members reject the proposed amendment, the director of the regional assembly shall advise the OPR of the fact that the OPR shall consider whether to recommend to the Minister that a draft direction shall be issued. The Minister may then direct the OPR to issue the draft direction.

The rational for such a process is clear. The key aim of the Bill is to introduce consistency, clarity and certainty throughout the planning system. We discussed this regarding section 34. Central to this is the alignment of the various tiers of planning from national, regional to local levels. Once the process for agreement of a national planning policy statement is complete, which includes the necessary stakeholder engagement, environmental assessment and agreement of Government, it is important that regional spatial and economic strategies are subsequently reviewed to assess whether they are still aligned to agreed national policy on a given issue. If they are aligned, then no course of action is needed. If, however, a change or an update is required on foot of a newly-issued national planning policy statement, then this section outlines the process for this.

This section is being opposed without producing an alternative approach. It is clear there must be some process to review and monitor alignment through the planning system. Otherwise, national policy becomes disconnected and at odds with regional and local implementation - this is about the national, to the regional to the local - leading to delays, legal ambiguity, arguments and increased costs for everyone. This section as drafted lays out such a process in a manner which is transparent, fair and proportionate. As this section is absolutely necessary to a functioning planning system, I must oppose the opposition to it.