Recent Demographic Growth in Ireland: Implications for Future Spatial Planning and Housing Provision

Abstract

The recent publication of Ireland's Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government's 'non-statutory' Planning Policy Statement (PPS) of end January 2015, heralds the prospect of the replacement of the National Spatial Strategy (2002-2020) with a National Planning Framework (NPF). The PPS emphasises that future Planning Strategy should be both evidence-based and plan-led. As a contribution to such aspirations, this Paper presents a demographic approach applied to the spatial context for current housing needs and points to compelling reasons for developing Ireland's cities whilst curtailing the ongoing proliferation of villages, small towns and one-off housing, and for services provision, infrastructural priorities and related policy issues.