Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Various members have spoken in the last hour about the great importance attached to this document in creating the national planning framework for the coming years. I agree with that, but at the moment it only has the potential to be important and make a difference. When I go through this document there is a deficit. I do not see that the ambitions contained within each chapter of this document are cognisant of the submissions and the input of those that sought to have an influence on the final document. That is regrettable. There were 1,000 submissions, but I would prefer that they were grouped, summarised and the key elements pertaining to different sections outlined so that we could get some cohesion for the finished product.

I listened to Deputy Eamon Ryan, and I agreed with him when he talks about a planning framework which is not associated with the infrastructural plan, which is due shortly. I know that the two cannot necessarily be published together, but the Minister said that the national planning framework will be backed up by the infrastructural plan. There have to be ambitious targets for roads, rail and public transport. There has to be provision for broadband, education, further education, lifetime education and apprenticeships, public and civic services, hospital infrastructure and primary care infrastructure, home helps and assisting the elderly to remain in their communities, and housing provision. We have all spoken about sustainable housing provision and stopping the sprawl by working with what we have available in terms of in-fill sites and addressing what is contained within the Vacant Homes Refurbishment Bill. That can be done forthwith. We do not necessarily need a planning framework to provide a pathway for that. Deputy Ryan was quite right to ask what innovation is contained within this framework to help and assist in addition to those ways of regenerating, revitalising and re-energising towns. What other ideas or innovations are contained in this plan to address those issues? The greatest sin of the last number of years is the dilapidation that exists and the lack of energy and vibrancy in many towns and villages throughout the country. That issue should be paramount in any national planning framework.

Where are we on innovation and enterprise? We talk about greening our economy, but where is the provision for enterprise and innovation? Where is the fund that various regions need in order to engender that? We have spoken about de-carbonising. We have a carbon tax that I do not believe is being put to the correct use. I have been saying this consistently, especially in my own region. We are moving away from excavating turf and from Bord na Móna, which will no longer be what it was beyond 2030. The region that I represent, and far beyond it, does not have a plan or process of Government subvention to assist it to replace that industry. I have said consistently that the last Government reintroduced a carbon tax, doubled it and took away the provisions that was previously available for Bord na Móna products. That would be fine if the revenue generated from that was pumped back into those regions in the form of innovation and enterprise funds to allow the regions to replace the turf industry and provide work and potential for growth. Perhaps we would see progress then.

I will pick out certain aspects of this document in the time available to me but will make a more detailed written response in due course. I commend the Minister for acquiescing to a request for an extension. The deadline is now 10 November, rather than 3 November. That is based on the feedback I have been receiving in my constituency and also from my colleagues in the parliamentary party. It is only when the draft document appears that we can begin to analyse and scrutinise it properly and effectively in order to seek to ensure that there is a more universal support for any future document. I welcome the legislation that will back up the creation of an independent office for planning regulation. It has been sought in recent years and it is to be welcomed.

The document mentions that there are to be regular reviews and updates. I would prefer if it stipulated when these regular reviews and updates will take place. If this plan is to last until 2040, as is the aspiration, it should take into account that area plans, county development plans and regional plans are of much shorter duration. They need to be in synch with the overall plan.

I welcome the commitment to end the sprawl that we have seen, especially in Dublin. That has to be addressed.

The plan discusses social disadvantage and inequality. It will involve Government intervention and subvention for those regions which are least well off in order to bring them to par.

Local development plans and area plans have sought to ensure the sustainability of rural areas. They have sought to assist land owners and their family members to live on their own lands. There are contradictions within this relating to aspirations and the hierarchy of plans, which seem to indicate that local area plans and county development plans will now have to adopt this economic need. In my county there is a functional need which carries greater weight than the local need, and it is causing great difficulty. I hope that will be addressed in the next local development plan, if not by material contravention in the meantime. I do not believe that the hierarchy, if it is an aspiration of this plan, can be adhered to in its entirety. Some leeway should be given to local authorities on the area plans based on the type of county affected, the make up of it and the potential for growth in the future.

The Minister's plan discusses learning from the previous spatial strategy, which was scrapped in 2012. There has been nothing for the last five years, and hopefully we are about to get a replacement. The new plans say that the old plan failed because there were winners and losers when it came to gateways and hubs. In my region, Mullingar, Athlone and Tullamore was to be a gateway region where development would take place. Great synergy was developed between the three towns, the three chambers and between industry. IBEC, ISME and others bought into that concept. It was working well and had the potential to work well into the future. However, this process has seen Athlone break away. The aspiration of Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran was that it would get city status and would be far greater than anything else east of the Pale. It is obviously not the case and should not be the case.

It is incumbent on the Government to help such towns. Those involved in the towns are prepared to work together for the betterment of the region in its entirety and they should be rewarded. It is extraordinary to realise that they can now only have potential growth of 20% without any review of that assertion. There should be an immediate review if those caps are reached at an earlier stage.

It would appear that I am now charged with responsibility in my region, county or constituency to try to bring all the submissions together from the various bodies, including IBEC, ISME, the IFA, RGDATA and other groups to see what commonality exists within the region in respect of their aspirations. Each region should have three or four key infrastructural priorities to help to ensure each priority represents the foundation for future growth. Again, that should be contained within the national planning framework. It should be supported and followed through with a national infrastructural plan, which would put meat on the bones and money in the regions. This is what I am asking the Government to consider when it comes to the final document. I implore the Government to realise that while this is a draft document and a great deal of work has gone into it, much needs to be changed and there is a different way in which this can be approached. I appeal to the Government to be cognisant of the input of Deputies, who represent the various constituencies and bring depth of experience and knowledge to the process. I hope that will be reflected in the new document. It is incumbent on all of us to make detailed written submissions to try to get the level of consent that we believe to be necessary for the framework document and to give the infrastructural plan the back-up it needs to allow it to become a reality.

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