Political parties across Ireland have come under pressure to commit to new proposals set forward by the country's leading planners.

The Irish Planning Institute (IPI) and Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) launched a joint manifesto of key commitments. This was introduced as the General Election 2020 draws closer, with planners calling for greater investment in the planning system and commitment to deliver on the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan.

Speaking as the Manifesto was published, President of the Irish Planning Institute Dr Conor Norton said: "Members of the Irish Planning Institute work right across the Planning System – from central government to local authorities, a range of state agencies, and in consulting across the private sector. As a profession we have a major role to play in delivering on many of the topics that feature so prominently in the election debate. We are calling on all political parties seeking to enter government to commit to our proposals as outlined in our manifesto."

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Aidan Culhane, Chair of RTPI Ireland, added: "I urge the political parties and future Government to support the ambitions of our manifesto which sets out a route map to meet the challenges the country faces. Planning has an important role in supporting this but it will rely upon having robust, long term plans in place to deliver the step change we need and providing planners with the right tools and resources to deliver these effectively."

(CM/JG)