Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 29 together.

I thank Deputies Canney and Christopher O'Sullivan for bringing up this important matter. Updated rural planning guidelines are being prepared to expand on the high-level spatial planning policy of the national planning framework, NPF, in particular national policy objective, NPO, 19.

The objective makes a clear distinction between rural areas under urban influence, which are areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining. NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social or economic need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence. The guidelines will continue to allow development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on NPO 19, and will also highlight the need to manage development in the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas.

Due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft guidelines, which will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas, are currently subject to legal review and ministerial approval and will then be published for a period of public consultation.

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