The Southern Regional Assembly has expressed concerns regarding the Draft First Revision to the National Planning Framework (NPF), citing significant investment imbalances and missed opportunities for effective regional development.
David Kelly, Director of the Southern Regional Assembly, reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to Project Ireland 2040, highlighting the potential of the NPF to address Ireland’s most pressing spatial, societal, economic, and environmental challenges. However, he also noted several key concerns related to the Draft First Revision.
“The Southern Regional Assembly strongly supports the Project Ireland 2040 process, as it presents us with a unique opportunity to address critical issues facing Ireland over the next 20 years. While we recognise some positive developments, such as better alignment between national, regional, and local policies and significant state investment, major structural and geographic investment imbalances still exist” said Kelly.
He also emphasized that these imbalances are hindering the achievement of national targets related to climate change, sustainable growth, and regional development.
“The development potential of the Cork, Limerick-Shannon, and Waterford Metropolitan Areas is not being fully realized, and rural areas continue to face barriers that prevent them from contributing meaningfully to national progress,” Kelly added.
The Assembly expressed concern over the continued trajectory of population growth in the Dublin area, which runs counter to the NPF’s goal of balanced regional development. Census data confirms that population growth remains concentrated in Dublin, increasing the current unsustainable pressures. Stronger regions, through increased investment, can take significant pressure off the Dublin area.
The Southern Regional Assembly has called for a strengthening of the Draft First Revision to ensure that it provides a clear direction for implementing the NPF’s policy objectives relating to effective regional development. The Assembly warns that without addressing these imbalances, the NPF won’t deliver its vision for balanced development across Ireland.
Cllr. Garret Kelleher, Cathaoirleach of the Southern Regional Assembly, emphasized the importance of regional participation in the consultation process. Reflecting on the Assembly’s engagement, he said,
“The Southern Region has an enormous amount of untapped potential. The realisation of this potential through meaningful capital investment in Cork, Limerick-Shannon, Waterford and our rural areas would achieve the stated objective of providing an effective counterbalance to the greater Dublin area and would also have significant long term sustainability benefits. The National Planning Framework must fully reflect this ambition and the necessary resources must be provided to enable the ambition to be realised.”
The Southern Regional Assembly remains committed to promoting sustainable development and regional cooperation across the Southern Region, which includes Cork, Limerick-Shannon, and Waterford, as well as numerous smaller communities.
View the Submission of the Southern Regional Assembly to the Draft First Revision to the National Planning Framework by clicking on this link.