Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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74. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37995/16]

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 elapse of time as well as the changed circumstances and new challenges that have emerged in the planning arena since the NSS was adopted, work is underway on the preparation of a successor to the NSS, the National Planning Framework, for which a roadmap on its preparation is available on my Department’s website at:.

Consultation is a critical element in the design, transparency and delivery of the National Planning Framework. Successful preliminary consultation with key stakeholders was undertaken in June 2016. A national public consultation strategy is currently being devised to run in early 2017.

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 preparation by the three new Regional Assemblies of their new regional spatial and economic strategies, and for planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála. In this context, I am consulting with colleagues in other Departments and agencies in order to inform the National Planning Framework, in recognition of the whole-of-Government approach and the challenges and opportunities that exist to better align place making, investment priorities, employment and environmental strategies.

It is intended that an emerging draft National Planning Framework will be prepared by the first half of 2017 for submission to the Oireachtas for approval. 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.