Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 168 provides for the deletion of the date for the review to be completed, namely 28 May 2024. It makes sense to delete that date because it has passed. I note from the most recent Government statement on the matter that the draft national planning framework will be out for consultation this month and that amendments will be made in August, with a view to publishing in September. I am seeking clarification about whether those dates are still in order. It is sensible that the ESRI has been engaged to carry out further research and recommendations that will feed into that national planning framework. It is probably the most critical planning document in the context of the plan-led system we have. The Government's statement also indicated that the draft will come before the Oireachtas committee for scrutiny and discussion, which is welcome. This is something the committee sought, and I welcome it. Any member of the public will be able to make a submission, whether they are part of any organisation or not. I have no doubt that all those submissions will be reviewed and, obviously, that we will get a summary report on them.

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