IRELAND WILL NEED 550,000 more homes and 660,000 more jobs for a one million increase in population by 2040.

The government has published a draft of its long-term strategic planning framework for future growth and prosperity, Ireland 2040 – Our Plan, and is calling for input from the public.

Of the one million extra people, 25% are planned for Dublin and another 25% across Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.

According to the draft national planning framework this will enable all four cities to grow their population and jobs by 50-60%.

The remaining 50% of growth is to occur in towns, villages and rural areas.

Some of the objectives of the national planning framework are to:

• Enable people to live closer to where they work, moving away from the current unsustainable trends of increased commuting
• Regenerate rural Ireland by promoting environmentally sustainable growth patterns
• Plan for and implement a better distribution of regional growth, in terms of jobs and prosperity
• Transform settlements of all sizes through urban regeneration and bring life / jobs back into cities, towns and villages

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Damien English said, “Twenty years ago, we were a country of 3.5m people; by 2040, that will be approaching 6m people and an island population of nearly 8 million.”

From today until 3 November, the public can review the draft plan and make written submissions.

Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe said:

“The feedback from the public consultation phase will assist in finalising Ireland 2040 so that there is a robust, clear and realistic strategic planning framework for my Departments to progress the appropriate budgetary and investment follow-through, in particular through the 10-year National Investment Plan, which will be published together with the National Planning Framework.”

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