National planning framework
Marc Ó Cathasaigh argued the national planning framework is crucial for climate goals, offshore renewables and balanced regional development. The Taoiseach said the framework was at a very advanced stage and strongly backed its importance.
The national planning framework should be a cornerstone of our planning process underpinning the national development plan. It is absolutely vital to achieving our climate commitments, not just in the development of offshore renewables, which is pivotal in getting to our 2030 targets, but also about stitching in transport-oriented and transport-led development to make sure we can drive down our transport emissions as well. I represent a regional city. The NPF should absolutely be putting balanced regional development front and centre and ensuring the type of investment required to rebalance our country away from a Dublin-centric approach and out into the regional cities like Cork, Galway, Limerick and most importantly Waterford. We have to be serious about the NPF. Is this a piece of work we are going to get done in this Government?
Comment on this
The party leaders, including the Deputy's own colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, had a briefing on this matter with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government yesterday. It is at a very advanced stage. It is something I would certainly like to see happen in the lifetime of this Government. I believe it is possible. It is obviously a collective decision and there is a little bit of work still to do. It is something I would like to see happen. I do think it is very important for our climate goals and for regional and transport-led development. It is also important for anchoring the policy discussions and debates we are going to have in the weeks ahead. It is sensible to have that document and if at all possible we should try to do that.