Aubrey McCarthy (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairperson for the opportunity to raise this important and urgent matter, and the Minister of State for being here.

The national planning framework, NPF, is a cornerstone of Ireland's efforts to plan for sustainable growth, address regional imbalances and, critically, respond to the housing crisis, which is gripping our nation and which I have mentioned here on many occasions. The most recent data from the Central Statistics Office has shown that Ireland's population has increased by a remarkable 8%, resulting in over 5.1 million people now living here. This is an extraordinary demographic shift but it also brings extraordinary challenges regarding housing and infrastructure. The figures speak for themselves. New homes need to be built quickly if we are to meet the needs of this growing population.

The NPF was originally launched in 2018 as part of Project Ireland 2040 and had clear objectives to guide population growth, development and infrastructural investment over the next two decades. Despite the urgency, however, there has been a disappointing lack of momentum in revising the NPF to reflect the realities of Ireland today. As of now, the revised draft of the NPF has been completed and was opened for public consultation last July.However, I note that this process has taken longer than anticipated. It is an issue of significant concern in the context of the housing emergency.

The NPF cannot succeed in isolation. Its revision is merely the first step in a three-stage process. The updated NPF must be completed, the regional spatial and economic strategy, RSES, must be revised to align with the NPF's targets, and the county development plans must be amended accordingly to ensure that the new housing numbers that are needed can disseminate effectively to local authority areas.

The hierarchy I have mentioned is fundamental, yet it is inherently time-consuming. In his most recent answer in the Dáil on this subject, the Minister, Deputy Browne, did not provide clear timelines for these stages. This omission underscores the need for urgency and clarity in the months ahead. Setting and adhering to hard dates for the NPF revision, the RSES updates and the county development plan amendments is not optional. It is imperative to enable all stakeholders to plan ahead.

We must explore practical situations to alleviate housing pressures while awaiting the formal conclusion of the NPF revision process. One such solution is allowing local planning authorities limited discretion to release housing on tier one lands, which are lands that are already zoned and fully serviced. This would provide a much-needed pressure release valve, enabling strategic development on land designated as new residential phase 1 or future residential phase 2. This temporary measure would not undermine the integrity of the NPF process. Rather, it would demonstrate the Government's agile and responsive approach to the immediate challenges we are facing.

Ultimately, we must recognise the NPF for what it is and not just see it as just a bureaucratic framework. Rather, it is a vital road map for Ireland's future. Its successful implementation and the timely delivery of housing on the ground will determine how we face the growing population and allow us to face it with bravery. I urge the Minister of State to outline specific timelines for all the three stages I have outlined. Failure to do so risks deepening an already critical situation.