National Planning Framework: First Revision

1. Page 81

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   National Planning Framework First Revision | Page 79 6.1 Quality of Life and Place In recent decades Ireland’s people have become more educated, outward looking, technologically focused, productive and diverse. This adaptability and change has enabled us to become more prosperous, successful, and resilient as a nation. Continued economic success will ensure sustained improvement in living standards and quality of life for all of our citizens. It also provides the best possible platform from which to pursue key social and environmental goals, such as tackling disadvantage and responding to climate change. As our society changes, our needs and preferences will change, particularly as more of us become older. Quality of life varies depending on people’s circumstances, but in general terms, it reflects the elements in figure 6.1. How future development in Ireland is planned will continue to be a significant determinant of people’s quality of life. Location and place have an important influence on the quality of life that people enjoy. While the National Planning Framework cannot effect change in all of the dimensions that contribute to quality of life, there are some key elements that it will directly impact on, most importantly ‘the natural and living environment’. This is why place is intrinsic to achieving good quality of life - the quality of our immediate environment, our ability to access services and amenities, such as education and healthcare, shops and parks, the leisure and social interactions available to us and the prospect of securing employment, all combine to make a real difference to people’s lives. An important consideration is also access to sporting and cultural facilities and the State’s role in supporting and investing in these areas. In making choices about where to live, work and invest, the level of service provision is an essential consideration. Figure 6.2 broadly indicates the level of service provision that applies to settlements of varying sizes in Ireland. It follows that our cities are where high level service provision is available across a range of sectors and where there is accessibility to these services. Equally, more local service provision is appropriately provided for at a small town or village settlement scale. How future development in Ireland is planned will continue to be a significant determinant of people’s quality of life. Location and place have an important influence on the quality of life that people enjoy. Quality of Life Material Living Conditions Economic and Physical Safety Overall Life Satisfaction Governance and Basic Rights Arts, Culture and Heritage Natural and Living Environment Leisure and Social Interactions Education Employment Health Figure 6.1 | Elements Supporting Quality of Life

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   6.2 Healthy Communities Our health and our environment are inextricably linked. Specific health risks that can be influenced by spatial planning include heart disease, respiratory disease, mental health, obesity and injuries. By taking a whole- system approach to addressing the many factors that impact on health and wellbeing and which contribute to health inequalities, and by empowering and enabling individuals and communities to make healthier choices, it will be possible to improve health outcomes, particularly for the next generation of citizens. Sláintecare and a universal health and social care system is the overarching vision and policy direction for Ireland’s healthcare system. The objective is that everyone has access to “the right care, in the right place and at the right time”. Decisions made regarding land use and the built environment, including transportation, affect these health risks in a variety of ways, for example through influencing noise, air and water quality, traffic safety, opportunities for physical activity and social interactions as well as access to workplace, education, healthcare and other facilities and services such as food and alcohol outlets. National Policy Objective 36 Support the objectives of public health policy including the Healthy Ireland Framework and the National Physical Activity Plan, though integrating such policies, where appropriate and at the applicable scale, with planning policy. The changing nature of society has resulted in greater car dependence and reduced levels of physical activity being undertaken by people over time. Physical design affects people’s behaviour at every scale - buildings, communities, villages, towns, cities and regions. The places in which we live, work, and play can affect both our physical and mental well-being. Communities that are designed in a way that supports physical activity, e.g. well connected neighbourhoods with services and amenities within a short walk or cycle of homes, generously sized footpaths, safe cycle lanes, and accessible recreation areas, all encourage residents to make healthy choices and live healthier lives. Permeability describes the extent to which an urban area permits the movement of people by walking or cycling, rather than through the movement of motorised vehicles. This approach is known as “filtered permeability” and best practice is described for local authorities in the NTA’s ‘Permeability Best Practice Guide’ (2015). Countries with extensive cycle infrastructure report higher levels of cycling and lower rates of obesity. Healthy places in turn create economic value by appealing to a skilled workforce and attracting innovative companies. National Policy Objective 37 Ensure the integration of safe and convenient alternatives to the car into the design of our communities, by prioritising walking and cycling accessibility to both existing and proposed developments, and integrating physical activity facilities for all ages. Page 80 | National Planning Framework First Revision

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   National Planning Framework First Revision | Page 81 Hierarchy of Settlements and Related InfrastructureThe hierarchy of Settlements and Related Infrastructure Wheel Source: Derived from Strategic Investment Board Limited, 2008 Smaller Settlements and Rural Areas Smaller Towns and Villages Large Towns Cities P o w e r G e n eratio n W a s t e & S e w a g e T r e a t m e n t P l a n t s W a s t e l a n d f i ll W a s t e - r e c y c l e d R e c y c l i n g R e n e w a b l e s W a t e r & S e w e r s S u p p l y A c c e s s t o c l e a n w a t e r , S e w a g e d i s p o s a l D e p a r t m e n t S t o r e s S p e c i a l i s t S h o p s , A r t s & C u l t u r a l F a c i l i t i e s S h o p p i n g C e n t r e s R e t a i l W a r e h o u s i n g R a n g e o f r e s t a u r a n t s S u p e r m a r k e t s , R e s t a u r a n t s , M i x o f R e t a i l F a c i l i t i e s S h o p P u b P o s t O f f i c e P e t r o l S t a t i o n H ig h er EducationInstitutes S p ecialSchools H i g h e r E d ucationInstitutes F u rth er Education C a m p u sesof H i g h e r E d ucation I n s tit utes L i b r a r y, P o st Primary, G a r d a H Q , H i g h C o u r t , P r i s o n , F o r e n s i c S c i e n c e G a r d a D i s t r i c t C o u n t y C o u r t P r o b a t i o n S e r v i c eG a r d a S t a t i o n N e i g h b o u r - - h o o d W a t c h M u s e u m / G a l l e r i e s C o n f e r e n c e / C o n c e r t A r e n a L e i s u r e C e n t r e ( p o o l ) V i s i t o r C e n t r e , A d v i c e C e n t r e , A r t s & C u l t u r e C e n t r e C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e s , S p o r t s F a c i l i t y W e l f a r e S e r v i c e s L o c a l H a l l P l a y A r e a s (Electiv e a n d E m e r g e n c y ) Acute H o s pit a l S e r v i c e s I n j u r y C l i n i c s S e r v i c e s , M i n o r O utp a tie n t a n d D i a g n o s t i c C a r e S e r v i c e s P ri m a r y a n d S o c i a l T o u ri s m O f f i c e I n d u s tri a l P a r k O f f i c e I n f o r m a t i o n E n t e r p r i s e C e n t r e , C h i l d c a r e B u s i n e s s U n i t W o r k s h o p / K e y T r a n s p o r t N o d e s E n e r g y G e n e r a t i o n I n t e r c o n n e c t o r P o r t s & A i r p o r t s S cie n c e c e ntr e, M ajo r I n d u s tri a l P a r k s , S t r a t e g ic D e v e l o p m e n t Z o n e s T o uris m Sig n a t u r e p r o j e c t s C y c l e N e t w o r k P a r k N ’ R i d e B u s / R a i l , M a j o r R o a d s l a r g e r c e n t r e s B u s / r a i l t o T r u n k R o a d s L i n k C o r r i d o r s E N V I R O N M E N T C O M M E R C I A L SKILLS J U S T I C E S O C I A L H E A L T H N E T W O R K S P R O D U C T I V E L i g h t i n g S t r e e t B r o a d b a n d S c h o o l, E C C E P r i m a r y O u t r e a c h A m b u l a n c e G P , P h a r m a c i s t Figure 6.2

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   Page 82 | National Planning Framework First Revision 6.3 Diverse and Inclusive Ireland In moving towards a more diverse society over the last half century. Ireland’s population is more varied than ever before, comprising a range of ethnicities and nationalities. Coupled with changing societal values that embrace inclusivity for civil marriage rights and family composition, Ireland’s progressive efforts and actions to grant equality to all citizens as part of a fair and just society continue to be a priority. However, providing access of opportunity to citizens of Ireland is not a finite exercise, particularly where distinct and tailored solutions are required to continually address the needs of our citizens, particularly those who remain vulnerable or marginalised. Planning affords an opportunity to facilitate and deliver a more socially inclusive society through better integration and greater accessibility at all stages of the life cycle. Housing, education, health and transport are four key areas where social inclusion can be improved; for example, through universal design of buildings to deliver greater accessibility for all, or co-location of community facilities and uses to ensure communities are active during the day and into the evening. The National Planning Framework supports continued progress towards achieving a more inclusive society that supports our citizen’s basic human rights and assists in helping people to gain access to a better quality of life. People with Disabilities There were approximately 407,342 people with a severe and long-lasting disability in Ireland in 2022 with a further 702,215 experiencing disability to some extent comprising a total of 22% of the population. A significant proportion of the population will experience disability at some stage in their lives, particularly as the population ages. Many planning-related issues relevant to disabled people are similar to those that affect older people, including the need to facilitate independent living, access and mobility in relation to buildings and the environment and full integration with society generally. As many people with disabilities are of working age, access and proximity to employment are also important. In moving towards a more diverse society over the last half century, Ireland’s population is more varied than ever before, comprising a range of ethnicities and nationalities. The Travelling Community Travellers are recognised as an ethnic minority. It is estimated that there are approximately 33,000 Irish people who identify themselves as travellers. While not all traveller lifestyles are the same, some travellers have particular housing needs, related to economic activity and kinship. There is also a requirement to accommodate nomadism, for at least part of the year in some cases. Local authorities working with the travelling community will continue to address the specific needs of travellers, ensuring that targeted provision is achieved in line with those needs and that this is also incorporated into housing and traveller accommodation strategies, city and county development plans and local area plans. National Policy Objective 38 Plan for a more diverse and socially inclusive society that targets equality of opportunity and a better quality of life for all citizens, through improved integration and greater accessibility in the delivery of sustainable communities and the provision of associated services. The Irish Language and the Gaeltacht Gaeilge, the Irish language, is the first official language of Ireland with a rich cultural history and has been afforded significant constitutional and legislative protection by the Irish State since its foundation. Once widely spoken throughout the island of Ireland, around 2% of Ireland’s population now lives in Gaeltacht areas (Census 2022). The existence of areas where Irish lives as a community language is an important cornerstone in the building of a bilingual society in Ireland, and provides an environment where the language can evolve naturally in a modern setting. The language planning process, prescribed in the Gaeltacht Act 2012, represents the primary driver in support of the Government’s commitment to the achievement of the objectives set out in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. This involves the implementation of language plans at community level across designated Language Planning Areas with additional recognition of Gaeltacht Service Towns. The Act further provides for the designation as Irish Language Networks of areas outside the Gaeltacht with a critical mass of language-related infrastructure such as naíonraí and primary and secondary level Irish medium schools.

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   National Planning Framework First Revision | Page 83 It is vitally important for the maintenance of the Irish language as the vernacular of the Gaeltacht and for the promotion of the language outside the Gaeltacht that ongoing supports be provided for the language planning process and that support for the Gaeltacht development authority, Údarás na Gaeltachta, be strengthened. National Policy Objective 39 Support the implementation of language plans in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks. 6.4 An Age Friendly Ireland Older People ESRI projections indicate that the numbers of people aged over 65 will increase by around 66% to 1.3 million people by 2040, making up approximately 21% of the population. This compares to 15% in 2022. In addition, it is expected that the population aged over 85 will increase by over 140%. As people get older they are likely to have increasingly complex healthcare needs, with a requirement for services and facilities to support provision of suitable and necessary care. The increase in population coupled with an ageing society will have implications for the health sector and the services required to facilitate this demographic. Overall, there are more people in Ireland and we are living longer lives than before. This growing population will see an increase overall demand for healthcare services. The age structure of the population matters as health service use varies over the life cycle. Service needs tend to be higher at older ages, in the first stage of life and during maternity years for women. Persons aged over 65 increased to 15% of the population (776,315 persons), compared to 12% in 2011. These trends are set to continue into the coming decades. As more people live longer lives, they will want to stay healthy and independent, live in their own homes and communities and keep to a minimum their use of in-patient and out-patient hospital services. Government policy is to support older people to live with dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. In providing a more seamless and appropriate continuum of housing choices with appropriate supports for older people and a built environment that is attractive, accessible and safe, older people will be supported and motivated to enjoy more active, healthy and connected lives and to age confidently and comfortably in their community. This further reinforces the need for well-designed lifetime adaptable infill and brownfield development close to existing services and facilities, supported by universal design and improved urban amenities, including public spaces and parks as well as direct and accessible walking routes. The provision of such accommodation can provide opportunities for older people to downsize from larger houses within their existing communities. This may be integrated with more supportive communal and specialist care accommodation that will be required by some older people. The ‘Age Friendly Ireland’ shared service provides leadership and guidance in identifying the needs and opportunities of an ageing population and is embedded within the local government system, which, with support from Government, is best placed to respond to change at a local level. National Policy Objective 40 Local planning, housing, health facilities and services, transport/ accessibility and leisure policies will be developed with a focus on meeting the needs and opportunities of an ageing population along with the inclusion of specific projections, supported by clear proposals in respect of ageing communities as part of the core strategy of city and county development plans. As more people live longer lives, they will want to stay healthy and independent, live in their own homes and communities.

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   In support of the Town Centre First policy, Minister O’Brien in January 2023, launched an architectural competition for social housing on town centre sites, which would act as exemplars to encourage private development of similar well located sites in Irish towns. Following an evaluation of submissions from Local Authorities, four sites were chosen in Castleblayney, Kildare, Roscrea and Sligo. The competition was run by the RIAI and attracted almost 100 entries, many featuring innovative design and with valuable insights for other town centre developments. Following comprehensive evaluation, the award winning schemes were announced by the Minister in July 2023. Always intended as real live projects, the winning design in each location is being further developed in consultation with the local Authorities with a number at or near planning approval stage. Social Housing Architectural Competition Castleblayney - Boyd Cody Architects Kildare - Shay Cleary Architects Roscrea – JFOC Architects Sligo - TAKA Architects Case Study Page 84 | National Planning Framework First Revision

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   Children and Young People ESRI projections indicate that the number of people aged 15 or under will decline slightly, by around 6%, by 2040, to comprise approximately 17% of the increased population. This compares to approximately 25% of the population in 2022, meaning that the average age of people in Ireland as a whole will increase, but the overall number of young people will not decrease significantly. The number of people aged 15 or under will continue to increase until the mid-2020’s and decline only slowly thereafter. This means that the continued provision and enhancement of facilities and amenities for children and young people, such as early learning and childcare services, schools, playgrounds, parks and sportsgrounds, remains necessary and will need ongoing investment to ensure alignment with future needs. It also means that, if a significant proportion of future population growth occurs within or close to the current built-up footprint of settlements as targeted, it will be possible to maximise the use of existing facilities near where children and young people live. It will continue to be a requirement that proposals for residential development make provision for early learning and childcare and for children’s play in accordance with local development plan policies. The continued provision and enhancement of facilities and amenities for children and young people, such as childcare, schools, playgrounds, parks and sportsgrounds, remains necessary and will need to be maintained at similar levels for the foreseeable future thereafter. According to the UNHCR, children’s health, educational advancement and overall well-being are deeply influenced by the quality of housing that children live in. Housing is addressed further below. When combined with the older population, the dependency ratio (those aged under 16 and those aged over 65) is projected to increase to 65% of the total population by 2040, up from 53% in 2016. In making high quality places, the NPF seeks to support national policy and objectives for children and young people, including ‘Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures’ through integrating such policies, where appropriate and at the applicable scale, with planning policy. When combined with the older population, the dependency ratio (those aged under 16 and those aged over 65) is projected to increase to 65% of the total population by 2040, up from 53% in 2016. National Planning Framework First Revision | Page 85

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   Page 86 | National Planning Framework First Revision 6.5 Childcare, Education and Life Long Learning 39 Source: Department of Education Early Learning and Childcare Access to affordable and high quality early learning and childcare is an essential requirement for an equitable society, a thriving economy and sustainable communities and is a critical part of our nation’s infrastructure. Early learning and childcare provision in Ireland is reaching capacity for some age groups and in some parts of the country, and new planning approaches and sustained investment will be required, particularly in areas of disadvantage and population growth, and noting the promotion of infill and brownfield housing development in existing settlements as set out in this Framework, to increase capacity and enable existing services to meet regulatory and quality requirements. Investment in high quality, affordable early learning and childcare is critical both as an educational support for children, and as an enabler of parental labour market participation. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) are developing capacity in forward planning to monitor, analyse and forecast early learning and childcare demand and supply in order to identify areas of mismatch and develop approaches to best meet needs, including through capital investment. This function will examine data influencing demand, such as population growth and employment patterns, and supply, such as the forthcoming regulation of childminders. DCEDIY will also work together with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and local authorities to ensure appropriate levels of early learning and childcare provision are accessible to families as an integral element of the overall development process. Education Education has been critical to Ireland’s transformation over recent decades. Education, training and life-long learning are key enablers, around which personal fulfilment, a fair society and a successful nation revolve. All are central to sustaining economic success and building strong communities. In knowledge-based economies, education underpins growth as it is the main driver of technological innovation and productivity. Accessing a high standard of education is a priority now and in the future, having a major impact on people’s quality of life. A lack of skills and competencies limits access to good jobs and economic prosperity, increases the risk of social exclusion and poverty, and may hinder a full participation in civic and political affairs. The school system is experiencing significant pressures in catering for additional student numbers in certain parts of the country where a high level of population growth has occurred. Equally, the viability of some schools has been questioned in other parts experiencing population decline. Schools play a vital role within the development of sustainable communities, acting as a key enabler for housing development, and therefore the integration of education and land use planning and delivery needs to be undertaken in a coordinated and strategic manner in order to avoid pressure on school places, which in turn may prevent housing development from taking place. While national and regional level demographic trends are relevant, school place requirements are very much driven by local area demographics. Notwithstanding that the underlying enrolments at primary level have been falling nationally, this trend has not been experienced in areas where there have been high levels of residential construction activity in recent years. Equally, while national level enrolments at postprimary may peak around the middle of the decade, there will be a continued need for new schools and additional school places in high growth areas39. A further important consideration is the provision of appropriate school places for children with special educational needs. The need to ensure greater availability of appropriate placements in local areas, driven by increased prevalence of special educational needs, has been a significant driver of school infrastructure requirements, and the provision, in particular of special class places and expansion in the network of special schools plays an important role in underpinning sustainable communities. This is important as it not only reduces the requirement for children with additional needs to travel long distances to access an appropriate school place (which impacts on their ability to actively engage with their schools) but also assists in the provision of school transport for children with special educational needs who generally require bespoke transport solutions. Schools can also play an important role as hubs, particularly for new and growing communities, beyond the provision of education. This may include, for example, the potential for use of new school infrastructure (for sporting, general purpose facilities etc.) by the wider community. Where there is spare capacity in a school, schools can accommodate facilities such as crèche, childcare facilities or pre-school services. In recognition of this, the Department of Education has published updated procedures on the use of school premises and school sports facilities outside of school hours.

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   National Planning Framework First Revision | Page 87 The further education and training sectors have been reformed and consolidated to offer a broad range of flexible high-quality programmes to meet the needs of learners to enable them to develop skills leading to awards of levels 1 to 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications and to progress to employment and/ or higher education. Provision offers learners the opportunity to up-skill, re-skill and acquire new skills to support career transition and progression. In the Higher Education sector, the development of Technological Universities is delivering greater opportunity to students in the regions served, to staff working in the institutions, and to the broader local economy and society. The Technological University legislation was enacted in March 2018, (Technological Universities Act, 2018). There are currently five established Technological Universities. By creating institutions of scale and strength, multi-campus technological universities will bring greater social and economic benefits to their regions through a strengthened role in research and innovation and the delivery of a broad range of high quality education and training in each of their campuses. The provision of further and higher education and skills, including the new technological universities, supports the promotion of research, knowledge and innovation and the development of regional clusters as key anchors for sustainable regions. Through collaboration with industry and enterprise, and the development of clusters of technology and expertise, the higher education and skills sector opens up business opportunities regionally and nationally. Strategic planning of and investment in the provision of childcare, education and training are central to reinforcing the delivery of sustainable communities, promoting inclusion and offering choice and accessibility to a high standard of education and employment. This means that the National Planning Framework will seek to prioritise the alignment of targeted and planned population and employment growth with educational investment: National Policy Objective 41 Prioritise the alignment of targeted and planned population and employment growth with investment in: • A childcare/ECCE planning function, for monitoring, analysis and forecasting of investment needs, including identification of regional priorities; • The provision and timely delivery of childcare facilities and new and refurbished schools on well-located sites within or close to existing built-up areas, including in support of infill and brownfield development, that meet the diverse needs of local populations and act as a key enabler for housing development, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable communities; • The expansion and consolidation of Further and Higher Education facilities, particularly where this will contribute to wider regional development, and • Programmes for life-long learning, especially in areas of higher education and further education and training where skills gaps are identified. In the Higher Education sector, the development of Technological Universities has the potential to deliver greater opportunity to students in the regions served, to staff working in the institutions, and to the broader local economy and society.

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    Page 88 | National Planning Framework First Revision 6.6 Housing 40 Refer to Development Plans – Guidelines for Local Authorities, 2022, section 3.2.2 in relation to settlement capacity audits. Homes are both the places where we live and the foundation stone from which wider communities and their quality of lives are created. There is a projected total requirement to accommodate approximately 50,000 additional households per annum to 2040. Housing for All, the Governments Housing Plan for Ireland to 2030, was launched in September 2021 and encompassed the overall aim that “Everyone in the State should have access to a home to purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a high standard and in the right place, offering a high quality of life”. National Policy Objective 42 To target the delivery of housing to accommodate approximately 50,000 additional homes per annum to 2040. The long-term vision for Ireland’s housing future aims to balance the provision of good quality housing that meets the needs of a diverse population, in a way that makes our cities, towns, villages and rural areas good places to live now and in the future. PRIORITIES AND PRINCIPLES Nationally, the high-level policy priorities in the housing sector to 2040 are as follows: Location of Homes – Addressing the longterm spatial distribution of housing. Building Resilience – Re-use, adaptability and accessibility in our housing stock, ensuring integration to deliver vibrant sustainable communities. Need and Demand Profile – Charting national housing pressures to 2040. Reconciling Future Housing Requirements Effectively – Establishment of a comprehensive evidence base to support and inform housing policies and implementation measures. Creation of sustainable communities with a diversity of housing choice. NATIONAL CORE PRINCIPLES ARE SET OUT TO GUIDE THE DELIVERY OF FUTURE HOUSING, AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNANCE40: Ensure a high standard quality of life to future residents as well as environmentally and socially sustainable housing and placemaking through integrated planning and consistently excellent design. Allow for choice in housing location, type, tenure and accommodation in responding to need. Prioritise the location of new housing provision in existing settlements as a means to maximising a better quality of life for people through accessing services, ensuring a more efficient use of land and allowing for greater integration with existing infrastructure. Tailor the scale and nature of future housing provision to the size and type of settlement where it is planned to be located. Integrate housing strategies where settlements straddle boundaries (county and/ or regional). Utilise existing housing stock as a means to meeting future demand. The long term vision for Ireland’s housing future aims to balance the provision of good quality housing that meets the needs of a diverse population, in a way that makes our cities, towns, villages and rural areas good places to live now and in the future.

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