- Work Programme of the DRA
- Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2004-2016
- Mid-Term Review of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 - Dublin Regional Authority's Submission
- Agenda for Dublin
- ICT infrastructure and use in the Dublin Region
- Encouraging Digital Inclusion in Dublin
- County and Group Broadband Scheme
- 2008 Activities
- 2007 Activities
- 2006 Activities
- 2005 Activities
- Annual Reports and Newsletters
Regional Activity
Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2004-2016
The unprecedented economic growth in the country in recent years has brought many benefits in terms of employment growth and higher standards of living. The 'Celtic Tiger' years have also seen a massive increase in physical development necessary to sustain this economic growth. However, the speed and volume of this growth has led to increasing pressures on our resources, the environment and on the infrastructure, services and facilities, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area.
The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) which was launched in November 2002 aims to improve the quality of life of all citizens, bringing jobs closer to where we live, improving our environment and building a strong sustainable economic future for ourselves and our children. The NSS sets out a framework designed to achieve a better balance of social, economic and physical development and population growth throughout the country.
To give Regional effect to the NSS, Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs) were published for the eight Regions in the country. The Dublin Regional Authority and Mid-East Regional Authority, the two Regional Authorities which make up the seven counties of the Greater Dublin Area, made the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2004-2016.
Building on the experience of the Strategic Planning Guidelines (1999), the strategy set out in the RPGs charts a course for the physical, economic and social development of the region up to the year 2016. The RPGs will define and inform planning policy in each of the seven Planning Authorities, and will inform Government Departments and State Bodies on the future allocation of public resources.
A unique partnership of Regional Authorities, County Councils, Government Departments, State Bodies and a wide range of interested bodies, including two extensive public consultation processes informed the preparation of the Regional Planning Guidelines. The Guidelines and the associated Regional Report contain a comprehensive analysis of what constitutes the Greater Dublin Area today, its problems, challenges and opportunities, and the agreed vision for its future development. This publication has brought the NSS process into its implementation phase at Regional level.
The provisions for the preparation of Regional Planning Guidelines are set out in Chapter III Sections 21-23 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. In May 2003, the Minister directed the Mid-East and Dublin Regional Authorities to make new Regional Planning Guidelines in respect of the combined area of their regions.
The objective of the Regional Planning Guidelines is to provide a long-term strategic planning framework for the development of the Greater Dublin Area for a period of 12 years. While these Guidelines are set within a 12 year context, they will be reviewed after 6 years.
The published RPG report comprises Part A and Part B. The Part A of the Regional Planning Guidelines sets out the background and current trends regarding the Strategic Planning Guidelines and the National Spatial Strategy. It describes the current situation (and background to the Regional Planning Guidelines) in terms of the international, regional and local policy contexts. It focuses on matters for the whole of the Region to which the Guidelines relate in accordance with the principles of the proper planning and sustainable development as described in Section 23 (2) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. This forms the basis and starting point for Part B.
The Part B Regional Planning Guidelines contained in the document provide a robust sustainable planning framework for the Greater Dublin Area within the context of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and the National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020. It provides a long-term strategic planning framework for the development of Greater Dublin Area in the 12 year period up to 2016 within the NSS vision for 2020. The Regional Planning Guidelines have been devised and prepared having regard not only to the recommendations of the NSS for the Dublin and Mid-East Regions (the Greater Dublin Area), but also, and importantly, for the regions surrounding the GDA.
It must be clear that Part B of the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area is to be read in conjunction with Part A.
Copies of the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2004-2016 can be obtained by contacting the Dublin Regional Authority, 11 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, (Tel: 01-8745018) at the price of €40.00 per copy, or by logging on the Regional Planning Guidelines Website (www.rpg.ie) and downloading the report.