The General Scheme of the Planning and Development (No. 2) Bill 2014 has now been published.

The General Scheme, which has been approved by Government, is primarily being progressed to support the implementation of the planning-related recommendations of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal.

It also supports planning actions in the Government's Construction 2020 Strategy, some of which are already advancing in the General Scheme for a Planning and Development (No.1) Bill 2014 which was recently published.

The main provision in the General Scheme relates to the establishment of the Office of the Planning Regulator, which will be independent of the Department and whose primary functions will include the assessment and evaluation of local area plans, local development plans and regional spatial and economic strategies, the provision of education and research on planning related matters, as well as investigative powers to review the organisation, systems & procedures applied by planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála in the performance of their planning functions.

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In addition, the General Scheme will provide for the placing on a legislative footing of the development of a new National Planning Framework (NPF) to replace the existing National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020.

The new NPF will set an overarching national framework for regional and local development, including strategic investment in critical infrastructure in transport, housing, water services, communications and other necessary infrastructure to facilitate economic development and growth at the national, regional and local level.

The General Scheme of the Planning No.2 Bill has been transmitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht in order to facilitate pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposals.

(CD/JP)