Have the quantum of zoned residential land in each local authority area has been reviewed

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government if the quantum of zoned residential land in each local authority area has been reviewed in comparison to the requirements of the National Planning Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government if instructions have been issued in relation to the de-zoning of the quantum of zoned residential land in each local authority area in comparison to the requirements of the National Planning Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The National Planning Framework (NPF) sets parameters for future planning in Ireland at an overall and strategic level and was not written for direct application to individual counties and towns, without first having regional-level policies developed through the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) process.
The quantum of zoned residential land in each local authority area has therefore not yet been reviewed in the light of the NPF, because RSESs are currently being prepared at Regional Assembly level to provide a co-ordination framework for local authority development plans in the light of the overall national level approach of the NPF. I expect that the Regional Strategies will be published for consultation by the middle of this year and finalised by year end or early in 2019. Following the adoption of each of the three RSESs by the respective Regional Assemblies, each Local Authority will be required to review their statutory land use plans, in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
No instruction has issued from my Department related to the de-zoning of lands on foot of the publication of the NPF. It is through the review process outlined above that the quantum of zoned land, including residential, can be fully quantified and determined. This approach was outlined to all 31 Local Authorities when they were briefed on the NPF by my Department over the course of March 2018.