Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I will focus on some of the positives in terms of green initiatives in the NPF. I refer to the stronger focus on compact low-carbon growth, helping to reduce car dependency emissions, the formal integration of environmental assessments, including SEA and appropriate assessment, the national policy objectives aimed at supporting biodiversity protection, commitments on a new national nature restoration plan, which I know the Minister of State is leading on, policies of no net loss for biodiversity - it should be a net positive for nature - supporting green belts, urban green belts and blue spaces, commitments in alignment with the climate action plan and the biodiversity duty under the national biodiversity action plan.Commitments on transport orientated development are hugely welcome. I believe that approach is central to reducing private car use, lowering transport emissions and improving accessibility to jobs, schools and services. The requirement that 40% of new houses nationally would be within existing footprints is important. The Minister of State's colleague mentioned town centres first in terms of heritage regeneration. How does this square with a business as usual approach to rural housing?

The NPF supports the development of offshore renewable infrastructure, including wind farms, and places an emphasis on onshore generation. It reinforces policies and supports vibrant rural towns and villages and investment in local infrastructure. The NPF does not specifically mention LNG projects but it places a stronger focus on renewable energy development, highlighting the need for the accelerated delivery of renewable energy generation to meet climate targets and the Government's national hydrogen strategy.

I want to make a specific point on Uisce Éireann and water supply, and the midlands and eastern water supply project, which is referred to as the Shannon pipeline. That project will suck up all of the resources of Uisce Éireann. It will take ten years to complete and I do not think it is feasible. Where is the balanced regional development? We will continue to facilitate the expansion of Dublin through projects like this. I have significant concerns about that.

In terms of housing, the NPF sets a target of 50,000 homes per year, falling short of the 60,000 recommended by the Housing Commission. It does not include binding housing delivery mechanisms or legal accountability for meeting targets. It lacks binding targets for social and affordable housing, despite the clear and growing need we are all aware of in the House.

Planning remains too loosely aligned with employment centres and essential services and risks disconnects between housing location and community need. For those of us Senators based in rural Ireland, we see the NPF as business as usual in terms of lopsided development. I will support it, but I will also support the amendment put forward by my colleague.