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

Urban area plans are for regional growth centres in key towns that have been designated at a regional level in the regional spatial economic strategy and where, in the opinion of the planning authority, the scale of the planned growth requires an integrated approach to land use and transportation planning for the entire urban area. This is not too dissimilar to local area plans.

Priority area plans are for parts of towns and cities that have the capacity to deliver significant housing or other development or that have a particular need for a bespoke plan for regeneration or renewal.