659. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give detailed consideration to the issues raised in correspondence from a local authority (details supplied). [39992/26]

The Revised National Planning Framework (NPF) was finalised and approved by Government and the Oireachtas in April 2025.

The Revised NPF and the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2024 provide the basis for the review and updating of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs). These strategies are required, under the 2024 Act, to reflect a range of matters and will in turn inform the review of individual County and City development plans under the Act of 2024.

Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, each regional assembly is required to commence a formal review of their regional spatial and economic strategy within 6 months of the commencement of this part of the Act. The three regional assemblies represent the Eastern and Midland, Northern and Western, and Southern Regions respectively, and each of the regional assemblies commenced the process of preparing at new RSES under the 2024 Act in March 2026.

Under the Act of 2024, the making and review of a RSES is linked to the NPF so as to help ensure that each RSES is based on up-to-date policies and data, and as such, review of a RSES will be undertaken following the making of a revised or new NPF.

The review of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies is a function of the respective regional assemblies. Accordingly, the Deputy may wish to address this query to the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA).