Statement from Government - 5 March 2024

The government have today (5 March) agreed to the deferral of the approval of a revised National Planning Framework and have set out a revised timeline for the process.

Section 20C (5)(b) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) provides that the government shall:

Government have today agreed to defer the approval of a draft revised National Planning Framework until the full suite of data required to consider matters relating to demographics and population projections has been received from the Economic Social and Research Institute (ESRI).

Government formally commenced the process to undertake the First Revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF) in June 2023, and the process was scheduled to be completed in April 2024, as set out in the indicative timeline included in the document Item was unpublished or removed

Significant progress has been made in recent months on the development of the revised NPF. A wide ranging stakeholder consultation process has been undertaken. An Expert Group comprising three independent experts with experience of spatial planning, economic and social development and environmental protection, was established in March 2023 as requested by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to provide a high-level overview of the NPF. This report, with accompanying recommendations, was published in September 2023.

The Planning Advisory Forum, a stakeholder consultation group comprising over 50 representatives (including groups representing elected members, industry, environmental organisations, social and community bodies and others) has met four times to discuss and consider issues relating to the revised NPF and written submissions were also received. In addition, a cross-departmental steering group, representing all government departments has met regularly to input to the process.

The revision to the NPF is informed, to a significant degree, by census data and the postponement of the census in 2021 due to the global pandemic, resulted in the delayed publication of crucial census outputs relating to housing and demographics.

Further to Census 2022, among the key drivers to the National Planning Framework Revision, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has engaged the Economic Social and Research Institute (ESRI) to update their previous projections relating to population growth to 2040, based on demographic and econometric modelling and having regard to the results of Census 2022 and other factors with potential to influence fertility, mortality and migration trends. In addition, the research will outline projections relating to structural housing demand having regard to factors such as headship and obsolescence.

The ERSI are currently finalising their research with a view to providing a draft report for consideration by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in March, following which the report will be peer-reviewed and published. The final report is likely to be available in April 2024.

In light of the extent of recent demographic change and the implications for future population projections and structural housing demand, Government has decided to defer the approval of a draft revised National Planning Framework until the full suite of data required to properly consider matters relating to demographics and population projections has been received from the Economic Social and Research Institute (ESRI).

Having regard to the above, it is proposed that the revised timeline for the revision process will involve publication of the draft revised NPF and accompanying technical assessments for national public consultation in June 2024. This will be followed by an Amendment Stage in August 2024 for review and consideration of the submissions received and the application of any relevant amendments. The finalised document will be published, subject to approval, in September 2024.

The draft revised NPF will be subject to engagement and scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee.

All relevant information pertaining to the revision is available on the dedicated NPF website.