Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)

This framework will have a significant influence on the development of major strategic projects in the State. It should show ambition for future balanced regional development. As a TD from the west of Ireland, however, I think this development plan fails to address the current regional imbalance between the greater Dublin area and the rest of the country. If anything, the population growth targets contained within the document further cement this imbalance against the western region. This is a missed opportunity for the west. It demonstrates the hollow commitments of this Government towards regional balance and development. Future development in the western region will depend on the delivery of major infrastructural projects, especially in the area of transport. We need serious transport infrastructure investment in the west. I am thinking of projects affecting my own constituency, such as the western rail corridor, the double tracking of Athenry to Galway and the Galway ring road. These projects have not been delivered. Plans are one thing, but delivery is where the west of Ireland has always been let down.

Going back to the plan, it is disappointing to see that there is no national policy objective that addresses regional connectivity and transport.

This sentiment is shared by many stakeholders, such as TII. While the revised planning framework puts great focus on the growth and resilience of rural communities, this is wishful thinking without a policy commitment to rural connectivity. Similarly, there is limited reference to the role that the State's regional airports will play into the future. The development of this island's regional airports should be viewed as a clear, strategic priority, especially in the delivery of balanced regional growth. More than 84% of all flights in the State are processed through Dublin Airport. This imbalance reflects an underutilisation of regional and western airports, such as Shannon and Knock airports. Addressing this imbalance requires investment in both bus and rail links to regional airports, yet this document does not signal any intention to prioritise such strategic development.

This planning framework is vague in its language around the re-powering of existing renewable energy projects. Such re-powering projects can extend the lifespans of already existing renewable energy projects and reduce the need to develop these in new areas. Overall, the tone of the document reflects a missed opportunity to deliver the strategic needs of this island. I call on the Government to reconsider the policy objectives, especially from a rural connectivity and energy perspective, and to direct the development of the State in a way that is more regionally balanced.

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