Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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60. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to review the Dublin and mid-east regional planning guidelines in advance of the new national spatial strategy in view of the recent publication of the 2016 census of population and the stated desire to achieve a balanced regional development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24795/17]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The new National Planning Framework (NPF), titled Ireland 2040 - Our Plan, will act as the successor to the National Spatial Strategy 2002 (NSS) and will serve as the Government’s strategic 20+ year strategic planning and development framework for the co-ordination of a range of national, regional and local authority policies and activities, planning and investment. On foot of the finalised Census 2016 results, my Department will review and analyse all of the statistical data provided and ensure the most recent and accurate data is considered and reflected in any evidence-based proposals that may form part of the draft NPF and subsequent Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs).

The NPF will form the top-level plan which, in turn, will inform the new RSESs which are to be prepared by the three Regional Assemblies established under the Local Government Act 2014. Their regional strategies, which will replace the current Regional Planning Guidelines, will be prepared to reflect the new Regional Assembly structures. The RSESs will support the implementation of the NPF and the economic policies and objectives of the Government by providing a long-term planning and economic development framework to guide action at local government level, such as the statutory development plan process and the Local Economic and Community Plans also provided for under the Local Government Act 2014.

Until such time as both the NPF and the RSESs are adopted later in 2017 and 2018, respectively, the existing NSS and existing Regional Planning Guidelines will remain in place.