Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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28. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the draft national planning strategy to replace the national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18555/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The current National Spatial Strategy ( NSS ) was published in 2002 and was Ireland's first national strategic spatial planning framework, setting an overarching planning framework. The Strategy remains in force and as a result of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, its statutory role and influence has been strengthened by new requirements for local authority and regional plans to align with the NSS.

Bearing in mind the elapsed time, as well as the changed circumstances and new challenges that have emerged in the planning arena since the NSS was adopted, the previous Government approved the preparation of a successor to the NSS - the National Planning Framework - and in December 2015, it published a roadmap for its preparation: this is available on my Department’s website at the following link;

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The commitment to preparing the National Planning Framework was re-affirmed in A Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May.

I intend that the National Planning Framework will be a high-level nationally focused document, developed to ensure the optimal development of the country as a whole, while maximising Ireland’s economic recovery and on-going growth at national, regional and local level. It should contribute further to sustainable national recovery through an inclusive and participative approach with all relevant national, regional and local interests.

Furthermore, the National Planning Framework will act as the strategic planning context for relevant Government policies and investment in housing, water services, transport, communications, energy, health and education infrastructure, as well as the preparations by the three new Regional Assemblies of their new regional spatial and economic strategies, and for planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála.

Earlier this month, my Department undertook a series of key stakeholder consultation events as an initial step in identifying a range of issues for consideration ahead of preparing the draft National Planning Framework. Further consultation will take place with relevant stakeholders ahead of any formal national consultation programme being launched. An invitation will issue shortly from my Department to all Oireachtas Members to attend a briefing on the National Planning Framework next month.

In line with the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment, it is anticipated that the National Planning Framework will be finalised by the first quarter of 2017, taking account of all relevant inputs and statutory requirements. It would be inappropriate at this early stage to comment on the likely content of the framework, until sufficient preparatory and consultative work has been undertaken.