Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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A review of geographic boundaries is undertaken by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) after each Census. The exact methodology applied to defining towns has evolved over the years and different definitions have applied at different times. As part of the most recent review it was decided to broaden the examination of urban boundaries to include key stakeholders and a working group was formed comprising of representatives of my Department, the Central Statistics Office and Ordnance Survey Ireland (now Tailte Éireann). The outcome of this process was the creation of a new geographic methodology known ‘Built Up Areas’ (BUAs).

Built Up Areas are generated using an objective algorithm and modern technology to define boundaries based on a land cover definition. This provides an effective solution to managing boundary reviews for the future, while also eliminating the risk of statistical disclosure.

“Census of Population 2022 Profile 1 - Population Distribution and Movements” was published on 29 June 2023. This identifies 867 BUAs/Towns, which is closely comparable to the number of settlements that were defined in Census 2016. The publication clarifies that “Where the word 'town' is used in this release, it is referring to the BUAs.”

Towns with a recorded a population in excess of 1,500 or 5,000 in Census 2022 (i.e. the two statutory population thresholds referred to in section 19 of the Act) can be discerned from census data accessible at the following link: data.cso.ie/table/F1051

Interested parties may also view Census 2022 town boundaries with integrated population data in the CSO’s interactive census mapping application, available at the link below:

visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929

Accordingly, I am satisfied that there is no obstacle to the continued operation of Section 19 of the Act.

With regard to the latter part of the question, my Department does not collate definitive records of the number of local area plans (LAPs) that were completed before the results of Census 2022 were published, or the number remaining to be completed. While section 19 of the Act requires the preparation of LAPs in certain circumstances, it also affords planning authorities wide discretion to prepare an LAP in respect of any area which the planning authority considers suitable. In addition, a planning authority may decide to extend or revoke an LAP in accordance with statutory procedures, and as such, the number of such plans in effect nationally will fluctuate over time. The websites of individual planning authorities provide information in respect of recently adopted LAPs and LAPs that are being prepared or amended, and the website of the Office of the Planning Regulator also provides links to submissions made in relation to LAPs: Submissions issued by the OPR - The Office of the Planning Regulator

Further guidance in relation to Local Area Plans can be found in section 5.6 of the Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2022) and the Local Area Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2013), which were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.