Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State, Deputy English, is aware, I raised this issue in the House and at committee as soon as the draft national planning framework was published. I expressed my concerns, of which he is well aware, at that stage. Those concerns were confirmed when the national planning implementation roadmap was published at the start of the summer.

I will refer to Wicklow specifically in the few seconds I have remaining. The county development plan adopted only a year ago and approved by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government provided for population growth there of 42,500 up to 2031. However, the proposed national planning framework implementation roadmap now provides for population growth in Wicklow of 22,750 in that period, a decrease of almost 50%. That has serious implications. Some €120 million has been invested in critical infrastructure in Wicklow town but planning permission for housing in the town will not be granted until 2026 and even then only permission for 20 houses will be granted. Arklow has not had a waste water treatment plant for 30 years but is now getting one. However, under the plan only 24 houses may be built there per year.

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