Local Area Plans

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Ceisteanna (488)

John Connolly

Ceist:

488. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has considered the provision of a specific funding allocation to Galway City and County Council to fund an office to direct the planning and development of the Galway Metropolitan Strategic plan, National Planning Objective NPO 67 directs that a MASP be prepared for Galway to guide its long-term growth and investment, the achievement of this objective requires a coordinating mechanism between the two local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51699/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) holds the statutory responsibility for the review and preparation of the Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) for the Galway Metropolitan Area as part of the preparation of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES).

Under Chapter 2 of Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, the preparation of a Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) is structured as a collaborative process requiring the relevant Regional Assembly to coordinate closely with all constituent local authorities within the metropolitan boundary.

The monitoring of implementation of MASPs, as a key part of the RSES, including through the publication of monitoring reports, is a function of the respective regional assemblies and under Section 35 of the 2024 Act, statutory responsibility for reviewing these reports rests with the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR).

Accordingly, the Deputy may wish to address further queries relating to the coordinating mechanisms employed as part of the preparation of the Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP) for the Galway Metropolitan Area to the NWRA.