Written answers

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

National Planning Framework

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide an itemised breakdown of all expenditure to date on the development of the national planning framework and the Ireland 2040 Our Plan campaign, including expenditure on external consultants, marketing, communication, advertising, social media and website development. [7143/17]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Since June of last year when the initial stakeholder event in relation to the development of the Ireland 2040- Our Plan: National Planning Framework (NPF) was held, €131,679 in total has been spent. This has been spread across the areas of technical analysis and research, public consultation and communications. As indicated in replies to previous Questions, the development of the Framework, one of the most strategically important public policy exercises currently under way by the Government, will be a collaborative exercise, the ultimate success of which will depend on the degree to which all citizens have the opportunity to have their say on how Ireland should develop over the next twenty years or more, and how we can plan for and accommodate the substantial additional population expected by 2040 in a more strategic and sustainable way.

In this regard a number of initiatives have been put in place aimed at maintaining and updating the information flow and providing a forum or point of contact for feedback, where needed. For example, a dedicated website, www.npf.ie, has been put in place and a dedicated email address, npf@housing.gov.ie has also been created.

In addition to the standard provision of textual and graphic information to view and download, the website facilitates engagement with the general public through the use of easy to understand video presentations and social media which will be used and re-used throughout the process bringing down costs. Total expenditure to date in these areas, including promotional material, graphic design and video, is €37,132. The website will be one of the main platforms for ensuring the public can keep up to date over the life of the plan and is a long-term investment.

A public consultation strategy, ‘Ireland 2040 – Our Plan’ (National Planning Framework), is currently under way and will run to the middle of March, the outcome of which will feed into further analysis and robust evidence-based policy in formulating a draft Framework by the Summer. A first round of preliminary consultations with key stakeholders was undertaken in June of last year, and a report on the consultation has been prepared. Venue and streaming costs to date on this total €10,072.

In relation to research, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is currently working with my Department on NPF relevant research and empirical evidence. This work includes developing an “economic model and baseline” scenario, considering a range of future development options, including a “business-as-usual” scenario. To date €60,000 has been paid to the ESRI in relation to this key area of research, which will be of benefit across a range of Departments and will help inform plan making at the regional level.

External experts on environmental assessments required under EU law have been appointed to carry out technical analyses including a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), an Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Directives (AA) and a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA). An environmental scoping report is currently being prepared and will inform the pre-draft consultation process. Expenditure incurred on this work to date amounts to €24,475.

Further information in relation to Ireland 2040- Our Plan: National Planning Frameworkis available on thewww.npf.iewebsite. All efforts are being and will continue to be made to ensure that expenditure in connection with the Plan is kept to the minimum possible commensurate with the task in hand.

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