Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 167:

In page 66, line 20, to delete “20 years.” and substitute “20 years from the coming into effect of the framework, which period shall be specified in the National Planning Framework.”

All the amendments in this group relate to improving clarity of language regarding the timeframes involved in reviewing and making the national planning framework. I will go through each of them.

Amendment No. 167 clarifies that the 20-year maximum period in relation to the national planning framework refers to the period from the coming into effect of the framework.

Amendments Nos.168 and 187 delete the reference to 28 May 2024 from the Bill as that time period has elapsed.

Amendments Nos. 169 and 170 revise section 22(3) of the Bill so that it states that each review shall be completed before the expiry of two years from the publication of updated CSO census figures. This accommodates the time period that occurs before the full data set is in hand and is fully utilised to inform policy.

Amendment No. 172 clarifies that the time period begins on publication of the final census results by the CSO.

Amendments Nos. 171 and 173 signpost the subsections referred to more clearly.

Amendment No. 174 replaces “they” with “it” when referring to the “Government” as this is the legally correct way to refer to the Government.

Deputies Boyd Barrett, Ó Broin, Ó Snodaigh, Gould and Cian O’Callaghan have proposed amendments to my amendments that I will discuss. They have proposed amendments to amendments Nos. 175, 176 and 178 to the effect that the new or revised national planning framework shall be submitted in draft for approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas. As Members will know, this matter was debated extensively on Committee Stage. As I referenced in relation to previous similar amendments, it is correct that a whole-of-Government approach is taken to the development of the national planning framework, for example, which is of key importance to the delivery of objectives across education, the environment and housing, among others.

The Bill, as provided in section 23, provides for extensive consultation on the development of the national planning framework with all stakeholders, including the Oireachtas, key delivery stakeholders such as local government and the Environmental Protection Agency, and the wider general public. The Bill also provides that having such plans be subject to strategic environmental assessment directive, strategic environmental assessment regulations and the habitats directive. It is only after all of that takes place that the whole of Government reconvenes to approve the national planning framework. This is a highly participative, transparent and deliberative process. It is beyond the level of consultation, assessment or scrutiny typically involved in Government policy formulation and implementation.

Ultimately, the Government of the day must negotiate and agree an approach, including its associated targets, which will play a huge role in guiding the delivery of infrastructure right across every Department. That is why the Bill provides for Government approval. The amendments propose to add a further level of Oireachtas approval but are unclear as to how this can be reconciled with the extensive assessments and consultations already provided for within the Bill or with the wider programme of the elected Government. As a result, I cannot accept these amendments to the amendments.

Amendments Nos. 174 to 177, inclusive, and amendment No. 191 rectify syntax in those sentences to improve clarity, such as substituting ‘it’ for ‘they’, and stating that the revision referred to is the revision of the national planning framework.

Amendment No. 178 clarifies section 22(7) to make it clear that the review is complete when the revised or new national planning framework is published in accordance with section 23(5).

Amendment No.179 inserts a new subsection 23(8) clarifying that a revised national planing framework shall remain in effect for the remainder of time that was specified for the original national planning framework which was subject to the review.

The remaining amendments in the group are opposition amendments.

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