Motion: Rural Planning Policy Needs to Change

That this Council understands that Department for Infrastructure (DfI) officials have commenced a strategic scoping exercise to consider the North's current regional strategic planning and policy framework, including the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) and the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) and to assess whether this framework remains fit for purpose.

We also welcome that this exercise will involve examining approaches, for example, in the rest of Ireland and in other jurisdictions so as to identify best practice that may help inform future arrangements for regional spatial planning in the North.

In accordance, and taking into account ongoing depopulation of rural communities, not least in counties Tyrone and Fermanagh, this Council will write to the Department calling for a comprehensive, formal review of the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) in order to increase opportunities for farm families and also for non-farming dwellers to build and live in the countryside.

Go dtuigeann an Chomhairle seo go bhfuil oifigigh de chuid na Roinne Bonneagair (DfI) tar éis tús a chur le cleachtadh straitéiseach scóipe chun machnamh a dhéanamh ar chreat reatha an Tuaiscirt i leith na pleanála straitéisí réigiúnaí agus an bheartais réigiúnaigh, lena n-áirítear an Straitéis Forbartha Réigiúnaí (RDS) agus an Ráiteas Beartais Pleanála Straitéisí (SPPS), agus chun measúnú a dhéanamh ar cé acu atá an creat seo fós oiriúnach don fheidhm.

Fáiltímid chomh maith roimh an fhíric go mbeidh scrúdú ar chur chuige i gceist sa chleachtadh seo, mar shampla sa chuid eile d’Éirinn agus i ndlínsí eile, chun an dea-chleachtas a shainaithint a d’fhéadfadh cuidiú le socruithe amach anseo maidir le pleanáil spásúil réigiúnach sa Tuaisceart.

Dá réir sin, agus ag cur san áireamh an dídhaonrú leanúnach atá ag tarlú i bpobail tuaithe, go háirithe i gContaetha Thír Eoghain agus Fhear Manach, scríobhfaidh an Chomhairle seo chuig an Roinn ag íarraidh athbhreithniú cuimsitheach foirmiúil ar an Ráiteas Beartais Pleanála Straitéisí (SPPS), d’fhonn deiseanna a mhéadú do theaghlaigh feirme agus do dhaoine nach feirmeoirí iad araon tithe a thógáil agus cónaí faoin tuath.