Ó Broin outlines how communities can engage with County Development Plan review

The challenge of building sustainable communities in the midst of a housing crisis was the topic of discussion at this year's Annual Thomas Ashe Commemorative Lecture in Ashbourne last Thursday night. 

Chaired by Sinn Féin's local area representative Aisling O'Neill and addressed by Cllr Darren O'Rourke and Eoin Ó Broin TD (SF Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government), the public meeting heard that Meath had experienced a perfect storm of "run-away development" and light touch planning regulation in the past. 

Eoin Ó Broin TD, provided an overview of new planning and development processes, and outlined how communities can engage with the upcoming review of the Meath County Development Plan.  

Dublin Mid-West TD Ó Broin is also author of the recently published book on housing policy in Ireland, 'Home: why public housing is the answer'. Launching the book and drawing on its research, he outlined how planning and development can be focused to address not only our housing crisis but also to address the lack of community infrastructure such as public parks and playgrounds. 

Speaking after the meeting in the Ashbourne House Hotel, Cllr Darren O'Rourke said; "This was the third Annual Thomas Ashe Commemorative Lecture and was organised by the local Thomas Ashe Sinn Féin Cumann to coincide with the anniversary of the death of the 1916 leader. Ashe, a native of County Kerry, was commanding officer at the Battle of Ashbourne in 1916. He died due to force-feeding while on hungerstrike on 25th September 1917. Each year we try to use the lecture to provide a platform for public discussion and debate on contemporary issues.  

"This year's topic, given the lively public debate on the climate crisis, the housing crisis and the acute shortage of public parks and playgrounds in Co Meath, was 'Building sustainable communities during a housing crisis'. 

"The Meath County Development Plan is currently under review. In early December the draft plan will go on public display, providing residents of the county, and others, with the opportunity to have their say on the shape and nature of development in our county over the next six years. 

"This year's Thomas Ashe Commemorative Lecture provided us with a timely opportunity to think and talk about the new County Development Plan process, including the introduction of the new national and regional plans, the National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. Eoin Ó Broin outlined how the County Development Plan relates to these higher documents and wider planning policy, and detailed how communities can influence the Development Plan to reflect their, and their community's, priorities and wishes. 

"It was clear from the attendance and level of engagement this evening that local communities are really interested in these issues. They want to make their communities better places to live, work and to rear families. Meath has seen run-away development in the past. Communities right across the county have seen thousands of residential units built while community facilities were promised but never materialised. The Development Plan review provides us with a unique opportunity to help avoid that happening again. 

"More information on the County Development Plan review is available at http://countydevelopmentplanreview.meath.ie/".