Gillian Toole (Meath East, Independent)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith anseo um thráthnóna.

I welcome the updated draft of the NPF. There are several opportunities here to correct the mistakes of the tiger times. I speak as somebody from east Meath, a commuter county which has been seriously impacted. I sincerely hope the concerns of residents will be listened to and opportunities that present will be enacted.

The focus on compact growth and community infrastructure is highly commendable. It is essential that age-friendly housing is the priority there in terms of brownfield and whatever incentivisation is used for the development of brownfield and town centre sites.

Infrastructure, including transport infrastructure, from a climate perspective and from the point of view of connectivity of communities with their places of work, leisure, health needs, etc., must be a priority. All this, however, is entirely dependent on interdepartmental and interagency co-operation and collaboration. Without that, this will be doomed.

I will highlight two key areas: the high-quality international connectivity and Dublin Airport. There is a serious issue with a breach of planning permission there from the north runway which is seriously impacting residents in Meath East, but there is a solution that will allow the growth in connectivity and mitigate the current situation.

As regards the transition to a climate-resilient society, when will phase 2 of the land use review be published? Again, Meath East is seriously impacted, with a proliferation of solar farms, gas generation and battery storage facilities. There is no balance there.

Finally, will there be financial penalties for local authorities that do not adhere to the NPF or the regional spatial and economic strategies? Otherwise, we have learned nothing from the mistakes of the past.

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