Public Participation & Stakeholder

Engagement in the National Planning Framework

Colm McCoy24.09.18

ESPONNational Planning Framework (NPF)

• NPF is Governments high level strategic plan for

shaping growth and development of Ireland up to

2040.

• National in outlook and long term; evidence based.

• Framework that sets parameters- planning for over

1m additional people; 500,000 extra homes.

• Targets an overall pattern of development; move

away from business as usual.

• Aims to be enabling, facilitative, responsive.

• Whole of Government approach. Forms part of a

combined strategy under ‘Ireland 2040’ of

governance and alignment with National

Development Plan.

Dec. 2015

Roadmap Published

June 2016

Preliminary Stakeholder

Engagement

(3 days: 210 organisations)

Feb. – March 2017

NPF Pre-Draft Consultation

Over 3000 submissions.

Sep.- Nov. 2017

Consultation of Draft NPF

Over 1000 submissions.

Feb. 2018

NPF Finalised & Published

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1. Aims and Objectives for Consultation

• Good governance and transparency.

• Empower stakeholders to participate in shaping national planning policy.

• Prompt contributors to think strategically.

2. Identifying Stakeholders

• Political System, Government Departments (CDSG) and Planning System (Regional Assemblies and

Local Authorities).

• Key stakeholders and Wider Public: Advisory Group, Technical Working Groups; Sectoral.

3. Building in Opportunities for Participation

• Awareness: Multi media approach including video, radio adverts, social media and national and

regional newspaper adverts.

• Informal Engagement and Formal Consultation.

4. Stakeholder Analysis

• People want to see their views reflected in National Planning Policy.

Encouraging ParticipationESPON

1. Aims and Objectives for Consultation ESPON

Transparency

• From the beginning, the consultation process has been a

fundamental part of the preparation of the NPF; seen as

important for more informed, rigorous and accountable spatial

plan.

Empowering Stakeholders- A Shared Vision

• Range of events, platforms and strategies to promote discourse

including stakeholder events, conferences, dedicated website, on

line submission system, and schools competition.

Thinking Strategically

• Publication of an ‘Issues and Choices Paper’ to prompt and inform

national debate about the future spatial development of Ireland;

high level.

• NPO’s developed as result of extensive consultation.

2. Identifying Stakeholders ESPON

Government and Wider Political System

• Cabinet approval at key stages of NPF process.

• Briefings to Oireachtas and Updates to Cabinet Sub-Committees.

• Briefings to Local Government Management Agency (LGMA).

Cross Departmental Steering Group

• NPF is whole of Government Initiative. Greatest evidence of this is alignment between

NPF and capital spending under National Development Plan; Shared strategic outcomes.

NPF Advisory Group

• Established to ensure an effective link and participation of a range of interests across

society: provide advice on the strategic direction of the (NPF) and a platform in which to

develop, test, review and refine ideas, growth scenarios and policy.

• Regional Assemblies and Local Authorities: Series of regional events held across Ireland.

• Individuals and Public: Submissions provided diverse and interesting perspectives.

3. Building in Opportunities for Participation ESPON

Cross Border Consultation (NI)

• Framework for Co-operation.

Dedicated chapter in NPF.

Green Schools Poster Competition

• Aimed at encouraging children to

participate in place making.

• 255 Schools entered.

• 3,169 individual entries.

• Every single county in Ireland

• represented!

Social Media• https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/09022006-

project-ireland-2040/

NPF Schools Competition Winners with Minister Simon Coveney

4. Stakeholder Analysis:Draft Stage of NPF ESPON

Categorisation

• Submissions broken down by stakeholder type and sector. Almost two thirds of submissions

received came from individuals. Submissions received from outside Ireland, including

Northern Ireland, UK and even one from the USA !

• All submissions available of NPF website.

Common Themes from Submissions

• Governance: Need for joined-up approach across Government : National, Regional and Local Planning

• Regional Development: Importance of cities for wider regions, role of towns and villages for areas

outside cities.

• National Infrastructure: Co ordination of investment with place making.

• Environment, health and planning.

• Implementation.

THESE ISSUES WERE REFLECTED IN THE FINAL NPF AND POLICY AREAS STRENGHTHENED

ACCORDINGLY.

Stakeholder Influences ESPON

National Policy Alignment

(Government and CDSG)Evidence Based: Business as Usual

(Expert Group and ESRI)

Adding Value

(Advisory Group & Submissions)

Challenges & Reflections ESPON

Challenges

• Meaningful engagement requires significant planning, resources and creative

thinking.

• Getting the public and individual to engage in strategic and national level

planning is difficult- tendency to focus on the local and short term perspectives.

• Diversity of views need to be channelled into a coherent long term strategy/plan.

Reflections

• Governance systems are important to ensure successful engagement and

feedback.

• People and stakeholders expect Government to set out a long term strategy for

the future. Resounding message from consultation that reliance on sprawl and

uncoordinated development - i.e. ‘business as usual’, has got to end.

• Requires complementary sectoral vision (key priorities and headline proposals) as

to what this means for each Department and Sectors long-term strategy.

Once plan is completed the real hard work begins: IMPLEMENTATION !

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Thank you

Colm McCoy Senior Executive Planner, Fingal County Council, Dublin

Ireland

This presentation will be made available at: www.espon.eu/xxx