COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 10, 2012

HEADED ITEM NO. 13

COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2010 - 2016: Two Year Report on progress in securing objectives in accordance with Section 15(2) of the Planning & Development Act 2000 as amended

Since the South Dublin County Development Plan became operative in October 2010, there have been considerable challenges facing planning and development in Ireland that are reflective of those facing the wider economy, society and environment.

In working to implement the objectives of the County Development Plan 2010-16 to date, the Planning Department together with all other Council Departments are addressing a range of current issues such as housing choice, location and type, sustainable transport measures, energy initiatives, green infrastructure, habitat protection, flood prevention, advance school provision and a review of the Section 48 Development Contributions Scheme.

In keeping with the cross-cutting, multi-sectoral nature of the Development Plan objectives, many of the plans, projects and programmes that are now being advanced by the Council are based on inter-departmental, multi-disciplinary team working.  This has enabled us to be successful in securing external funding and support in pursuance of many of these objectives and to engage on an ongoing basis with Government Departments and external agencies.

For example, South Dublin County Council, together with the Department of Environment and Local Government, the other Dublin Local Authorities and the NTA, are currently examining what may be the most appropriate form of sustainable housing in large and medium scale development areas.  This will assist in formulating future policy, although it is clear that the focus of policy in the more recent Local Area Plans for Fortunestown and Newcastle (Draft) has been on delivering lifecycle housing.

 To monitor implementation of the policies and objectives of the County Development Plan, the Planning Department has introduced a system for capturing critical data at planning decision making stage that as information builds up over time, will enable evidence based policy analysis and review. 

 This two year review comes at a relatively early stage in the six year Development Plan cycle, yet it is apparent that there has been significant progress in implementing the objectives of the current Plan to date.