Project Ireland 2040: National Development Plan 2018-2027.

The National Development Plan 2018-2027 is a national multi-sectoral strategy that sets out investment priorities that will underpin the successful implementation of the national, regional and local planning and investment decisions in Ireland over the next two decades. The fundamental objectives of the NPF are listed below: • Carefully managing the sustainable growth of compact cities, towns and villages to achieve effective density and consolidation through a streamlined and co-ordinated approach to their development. • Reinforcing accessibility between key urban centres of population and their regions. • Ensuring that the fabric of rural areas is strengthened and the contribution of rural communities is harnessed as a major part of Ireland’s strategic development. • Continuing to enhance Ireland’s public transport and the environmental sustainability of our mobility systems. • Fostering enterprise and innovation and attracting investment and talent by building regional economic drivers and by supporting opportunities to diversify and strengthen the rural economy. • Further supporting Ireland’s high-quality international connectivity which is crucial for overall international competitiveness and addressing opportunities and challenges from Brexit through investment in our ports and airports. • Enhancing amenities and heritage linked to and integrated with our built, cultural and natural heritage. • Achieving a transition to a competitive, low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. • Safeguarding Ireland’s abundant natural and environmental resources through the sustainable management of water, waste and other environmental resources. • Improving access to quality education and health and childcare services.
To make agriculture and forestry more productive and sustainable in the 2018 to 2021 period alone, Targeted Agricultural Modernization Scheme (TAMSII) is expected to make up to €350 million available to Irish farmers for investing in infrastructure, facilities and equipment to enhance growth and competitiveness, address climate and environmental issues, improve animal welfare and farm safety and target young farmers to address the age profile of the sector. Among others actions, the plan foresees the funding of a National Food Innovation Hub and a Prepared Consumer Food Innovation Centre, usage of European maritime and fisheries fund operational programme, forestry programme focused on afforestation, helping with climate change mitigation, through carbon sequestration in forests and the provision of renewable fuels and raw materials. To achieve the national objectives of productivity the strategy envisions the full participation of rural communities. This applies both in terms of the traditional pillars of the rural economy, the natural resource and food sector, as well as those emerging from such developments as improved connectivity, broadband and rural economic development opportunities.
To enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems public capital investments in the agri-food sector will seek to enable the sustainable development of the sector in accordance with the ambition in Food Wise 2025 and any successor strategy. Continued support for food companies adapting and optimizing their production facilities will maximize the contribution the sector makes to the rural and national economy. Investments will also focus on forestry programs, development of fishery harbor centres and research and innovation facilities. The Sustainable employment challenge must be achieved through strengthened investment in research and development, and greater collaboration between the public and private sectors, particularly in relation to regional enterprise development, driving competitiveness and export diversification and supporting the research, development and innovation agenda.
To increase climate resilience the strategy identifies transitioning to a low-carbon and climate-resilient society and achieving sustainable mobility as vital strategic outcomes. This includes for example, the creation of sustainable green jobs, sustainable food production, deepening our energy security, and making the environment healthier. Climate-related actions include initiatives in energy efficiency, renewable energy, transport, commercial and private sector investments, agriculture through piloting of ‘climate-smart countryside’ projects to establish the feasibility of the home and farm becoming net exporters of electricity through the adaptation of smart metering, smart grids and small-scale renewable technologies, for example, solar, heat pumps and wind.
Regarding governance the NDP and its associated legislative framework with be prepared by the Regional Assemblies assisted also by high-level steering groups comprising senior officials from local authorities, Government Departments/ Agencies and commercial-State companies The National Transport Authority (NTA) also has a legal responsibility for preparing the NFP transport strategy part.