Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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183. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeframe for when the national planning framework will be revised; and to outline the process for how this will happen. [16213/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Planning Framework (NPF), 2018 is the long-term, 20-year strategy for strategic planning and sustainable development of our urban and rural areas to 2040, with the core objectives of securing balanced regional development and a sustainable ‘compact growth’ approach to the form and pattern of future development.

The NPF, together with the National Development Plan 2021 (NDP), combine to form Project Ireland 2040, the overarching planning and investment framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. The National Development Plan (NDP) is the rolling capital programme linked to the National Planning Framework (NPF).

The Government is currently undertaking the First Revision to the NPF published in 2018, with the revision process taking account of demographic changes that have taken place since 2018 and changes in projected population growth to 2040, as well as the continued need to plan for the provision of services in areas where growth is being experienced.

A national public consultation on the draft revised NPF ran from 10 July 2024 to 12 September 2024. On 5 November 2024, the former Government agreed to progress and publish a draft schedule of amendments to the First Revision to the NPF arising from the public consultation process which took place.

The Revised NPF is being finalised for the approval of Government, subject to which it will be introduced into the Houses of the Oireachtas for the approval of the Houses in the coming weeks. This will conclude the Revision process and allow the Revised NPF to take effect in the planning system.

The final Revised NPF will provide the basis for the review and updating of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) and local authority development plans to reflect matters such as updated housing figures, projected jobs growth and renewable energy capacity allocations, including through the zoning of land for residential, employment and a range of other purposes.