Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 10:

In page 12, to delete lines 18 to 23 and substitute the following:

"(n) the promotion of sustainable settlement and transportation strategies in urban and rural areas including the promotion of measures to—

(i) reduce energy demand in response to the likelihood of increases in energy and other costs due to long-term decline in non-renewable resources,

(ii) reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and

(iii) address the necessity of adaptation to climate change; in particular, having regard to location, layout and design of new development;".

I am happy to propose this amendment, which proposes the incorporation of measures to reduce energy demand in response to the likelihood of increases in energy and other costs due to the long-term decline in non-renewable resources, as part of the new development plan mandatory objective for the promotion of sustainable settlement and transportation strategies in urban and rural areas and while having regard to the location, layout and design of new developments. As Deputies are aware, the function of the planning system is to support the sustainable development of land in the interests of the common good. Development plans are intended to provide the strategic framework and policy contexts for all local planning decisions. They are frameworks for initiating and influencing the process of change in our surroundings, in order to support the wider economic, social and environmental objectives of the community.

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