The Irish Planning Institute (IPI), the all-island professional membership organisation for spatial planners, has called on the Government to ensure that planning reform aligns with and addresses the National Climate Objective.

The professional body has also said that the Government needs to address the historic under resourcing within the planning system, if we are to meet our 2030 climate change targets.

Addressing delegates and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, at the Institute’s Annual Autumn Conference in the Grand Hotel, Malahide, Co. Dublin, IPI President Mary Mac Mahon said:

“The ambition of the National Climate Objective and the implications of Carbon Budgets have not been fully mapped into planning policy and practice, and the hierarchy of planning policies needs to be better aligned to help Ireland meet its climate mitigation and adaptation goals.

“It is critical therefore, if we are to meet our National Climate Objective, that the Planning and Development Bill and supporting frameworks and guidelines are aligned and fit-for-purpose and those tasked with implementing this legislation are adequately resourced allowing planning professionals to efficiently deal with plan making and planning applications.

“Our members have developed extensive experience strategically implementing and integrating measures to support climate action in practice at a policy and project level. However, reform of the planning system will be central to dealing with both the legacy of unsustainable, carbon intensive, development and delivering the strategically critical infrastructure required to meet our climate targets, all at a time of significant population growth and housing demand.

“To deliver this, there needs to be a substantial uplift in resources, including additional planners, planning administrators and other specialists by both local authorities and An Bord Pleanála/ An Comisiún Pleanála helping to create the conditions for the Planning and Development Bill to support a more sustainable and prosperous society.

“It is crucial that the Government gets the Planning and Development Bill right. We look forward to examining the changes to the Bill, in detail.  As the Bill progresses through the Oireachtas it is a final opportunity for the Government to listen to the professionals who will be implementing the legislation.”