Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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108. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress of the regional spatial and economic strategy with specific regard to the plans for County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47165/18]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The National Planning Framework (NPF), published together with the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 earlier this year, is intended to provide the strategic context for future planning, development and investment over the next two decades. In addition, the NPF represents a long-term strategy for Government Departments, State agencies, State-owned enterprises, regional and local authorities and others to support communities to achieve their potential for economic, social and infrastructural development through a shared set of strategic objectives and key principles.

As a strategic document, the NPF is currently being given further and more detailed expression at the regional level through preparation, by the Regional Assemblies, of statutory Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) for the three Regional Assembly areas.

The RSES process formally commenced earlier this year. The draft Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly RSES is now on public display for consultation until Wednesday 23 January 2019. The draft RSES, which contains information in relation to plans for County Kildare, is available on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly's website at the following link: www.emra.ie/rses.

The two other draft RSESs (Northern and Western Regional Assembly and Southern Regional Assembly), subject to Regional Assembly approval, are expected to be put on public display in the coming weeks.

The finalisation of these regional strategies in the first half of 2019 will in turn prompt reviews and updates of individual county and city development plans to ensure strategic co-ordination and consistency between national, regional and local levels, including County Kildare.