37. Northern and Western Regional AssemblyMonaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 - Pre-Draft Submission Form
Deadline for submissions is Friday 7th July 2023 at 5p.m.
Please read the Privacy Statement before completing this form.
The Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 must contain objec ves and policies on a wide range of
important topics. These topics are set out as headings below to assist in making a submission. A number of ques ons
are also posed under each of these topic headings to encourage you to think about these topics and to assist you
with making sugges ons on what the key issues facing County Monaghan over the future plan period are and how
they can be addressed under the development plan. Please enter “N/A” in any of the comment boxes where you
have no comments to make under a par cular topic.
Please note, at this pre-draft stage, submissions relating to requests for zoning of land cannot be considered.
It is recommended that you save your submission periodically as you enter data using the 'Save as Dra ' op on at
the bo om of the form, especially if the submission is large or detailed. This will prevent your comments being lost in
the event of a me-out or loss of connec on.
Please note that submissions or observa ons made to Monaghan County Council will be made available for public
inspec on on the Council's website and may be redacted in line with GDPR and other legal requirements.
Q1. Name of person/body submission is being made by, or on behalf of
Name *
Q2. Agent Details
Are you an agent making a submission on behalf of the person/body stated above?*
Please provide your name below *
CONTACT INFORMATION
* required field
Denis Kelly, Northern and Western Regional Assembly
Yes No
Fiona Timoney
Enter Full Address or Postcode Search
SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Below there are a list of ques ons on a range of topics. These ques ons should be considered as they
may be helpful when dra ing your submission. Please note, this is not an exhaus ve list of topics.
Space is provided below (at Q11) to insert comments rela ng to any other topics you consider
important for considera on in the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031.
Q4. Environmental Assessment and Monitoring
Please provide your comments in the box below. Enter N/A if no comments.*
Q5. Settlement Strategy
Please provide your comments in the box below. Enter N/A if no comments.*
Q6. Housing Strategy
Please provide your comments in the box below. Enter N/A if no comments.*
Q7. Climate Change, Environment and Heritage
Please provide your comments in the box below. Enter N/A if no comments.*
Q8. Economic Activity
Please provide your comments in the box below. Enter N/A if no comments.*
Q9. Infrastructure and Services
Please provide your comments in the box below. Enter N/A if no comments.*
Q10. Community Services/Facilities
Please provide your comments in the box below. Enter N/A if no comments.*
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Q11. Are there any other topics/comments you wish to make in relation to the Monaghan County
Development Plan 2025-2031?
Please provide your comments in the box below. Enter N/A if no comments.*
Supporting documentation
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include your response in any results generated from this information.
After you click submit, you will no longer be able to go back and change any of your answers.
If you are having technical difficulties uploading your submission please contact devplan@monaghancoco.ie for
assistance. Once you have submitted this form there will be links available on the next page to either download this
form or email yourself a copy of the form.
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Date *
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Please upload any supporting documentation you wish to include with your submission.
NWRA Submission to Monaghan County Development Plan Review
07072023.pdf 500.38KB
Max file size per document uploaded:- 5MBs
DECLARATION
07/07/2023
Forward Planning Team
Monaghan County Council
Planning Offices
1 Dublin Street
Monaghan
H18 X982
via online www.monaghan.ie/planning/
7 July 2023
RE: NOTICE OF INTENTION TO REVIEW THE EXISTING MONAGHAN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
2019-2025 AND TO PREPARE A NEW MONAGHAN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR 2025-2031
A Chara,
We refer to your notification on 12 May 2023 in respect of the above and the Northern and Western
Regional Assembly (‘the Assembly’) wish to thank you for the opportunity to make this submission.
This submission is made in accordance with Section 27A of the Planning and Development Acts. The
Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, requires that the Planning Authority ensure,
when making or varying the County Development Plan, that it is consistent with the Regional Spatial
and Economic Strategy for the area of the plan, thus enabling full alignment between local, regional
and national planning policy. This submission was considered at the Regional Assembly meeting held
on 16th June 2023 and Members fully endorsed it.
The Strategic Issues Papers cover subject areas, as well as features on the plan making process, and
the SEA and AA process that will inform it. These areas can be summarised as follows:
• Introduction – Plan Making Process
• EIA & Monitoring
• Core Strategy options, and settlements.
• Housing
• Environment, Climate Action & Heritage
• Economy
• Infrastructure & Services
• Community Facilities
The format of the Issues Papers contain a series of questions on the future of the County, and how
the forthcoming Plan should address key challenges. It is important, at the outset, to acknowledge
that the alignment of the existing Monaghan County Development Plan (2019 - 2025) with the RSES
& NPF has been strong. The Monaghan CDP was varied following the adoption of the Regional
Spatial and Economic Strategy (‘the RSES’) in 2020, and at the time of the variation, the Assembly
provided a submission to the process.
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Northern and Western Regional Assembly
The Square, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon
+353 (0)94 986 2970 +353 (0)94 986 2973 info@nwra.ie
Monaghan County Council also provided feedback to the Assembly in its compilation of the RSES 2
Year Monitoring Report, which set out progress in the implementation of the RSES and it was
published in Q4 2022. That Monitoring Report should help inform the new development plan, as
should the findings of Census 2022. It hasidentified that the population of County Monaghan has
experienced steady growth (5.6% overall since 2016), and now stands at 64,800.
Comments on the Key Issues & Core Strategy
The Development Plan Guidelines (DHPLG) now provide additional direction to Local Authorities in
respect of Plan preparation and the formation of core strategy approach, Long Term Strategic
Development Sites, as well as an analysis of zoned land, and extant permissions. (Refers, Sec. 4.4.2.
& 4.4.1).
The availability of Census results over the coming months will further assist Monaghan County
Council in determining the most appropriate Core Strategy approach, however such an approach
must be consistent with the RSES and the ambition to grow Monaghan Town by at least 30%
between 2020 and 2040. It would be interesting to see to what extent the goal of jobs following
population growth has been met.
There has been a clear shortage of housing supply across the entire region over recent years,
including Monaghan, and the RSES 2 Year monitoring report reflects this, with housing data
(completions) showing most major urban settlements running at approximately 20% - 30% of
allocated targets.
The Assembly note the modest number of new housing units constructed within Monaghan Town
within the 2018 – 2022 period. Whilst it is clear this is a national issue and extends beyond the
sphere of land-use planning, the Draft Plan for County Monaghan should, in its analysis and HNDA
include some examination of extant permissions, and lands where development may be primed for
commencements and how barriers to development can be resolved via active land management.
Furthermore, the Development Plan Guidelines (Sec.2.2) outline a detailed inventory of the
necessary relevant staff a Local Authority should have within a Development Plan Team, and this is
something the Council may wish to consider before further Draft CDP preparation.
The Draft Plan should further consider:
• RPO 3.7 (Serviced Sites) and how this initiative could be applied to County Monaghan.
• The recent increased financial incentives which were introduced by the Government under
the Croi Conaithe Scheme
• Compact growth and brownfield site development (brownfield is defined in the RSES).
• The settlement hierarchy as currently configured in the County Plan, and whether the tiering
remains appropriate below that of Tier 1 (Monaghan Town), particularly with regard to the
Census 2022 data. In this regard, RPO 3.9 identifies Carrickmacross (Monaghan)/
Virginia(Cavan) as a combined place of Regional Potential, and there may be scope to
collaborate with Cavan County Council on the overall approach to both settlements, and the
wider hinterland of South Monaghan / East Cavan.
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Northern and Western Regional Assembly
The Square, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon
+353 (0)94 986 2970 +353 (0)94 986 2973 info@nwra.ie
Transport, Modal Shift & Climate Action
Key Infrastructure: In the area of transport, County Monaghan remains disadvantaged when
compared Nationally. The NPF recognises this, and commits to improving links to the North / North
West. Despite the commitments in the NPF / NDP, there are current barriers to progressing a
number of projects through County Monaghan. The N2 from Ardee to the Border (RPO 6.7) is one
such example, with the Government presently failing to provide the required funding to advance
Clontibret – Border, and no funding being provided along Phase 1 of this scheme (Ardee –
Castleblaney in 2023). The Scheme should remain a priority in the Draft Plan, and the NWRA will also
continue to advocate for its timely progression.
Local Transport Plans (LTPs) (RPO 6.27) for Monaghan Town, and potentially other places should
focus on Sustainable Mobility, and other climate action measures, to reduce car oriented journeys.
The All Island Strategic Rail Review is due to be published, and its preliminary findings will be of
relevance to the new policies which will inform the Draft Plan. The Northern & Western Regional
Assembly prepared a detailed submission ( www.nwra.ie/publications ) to this consultation,
advocating the inclusion of the Border Counties, including Monaghan, into a new All Island Rail
Network, which is crucial to long term sustainability and achieving modal shift. The preliminary
report may be of benefit in framing transport objectives within the Draft Plan.
Other Climate Action Measures
The Climate Action ambitions within the RSES are cross-cutting, and extend from a commitment to
compact growth, to a low carbon region which is a leader in onshore, and potentially offshore
renewable energy, as well as other sectors, such as the Bioeconomy. The New Plan should give
effect to the ambition of the potential growth area of Bio-refining Hubs (RPOs 4.27 – 4.29(.
The NWRA are currently engaged in partnership with the SEAI & Dept of Environment, Climate &
Communications in the preliminary work on the creation of a RRES (Regional Renewable Electricity
Strategy), which is outlined in Sec. 12.3.1 of the Climate Action Plan 2022. This Strategy will see
consultation with Local Authorities and will ultimately mean each County will have to review their
current and envisaged Renewable Energy contribution to the National Grid, with consideration given
to amending policies where necessary. This is something which should be kept in mind whilst the
framing of the Draft Plan is ongoing.
The Department of Transport’s National Sustainable Mobility Policy April 2022 contains an inbuilt
aim that the NTA will assist in the analysis of development lands, and prioritise identification of sites
within 1km of public transport networks. The aims of the Sustainable Mobility policy should be
factored into land zonings accordingly.
Other Considerations & Concluding Remarks
To achieve a shared vision for the Region, the RSES places a strong emphasis on strengthening Digital
Networks to enable emerging technologies to be reflected in policy. RPOs 6.36 – 6.60 include the
promotion of Smart Places. This is particularly relevant given the EDIH Project Data2Sustain and the
ongoing work of ERNACT, and the associated opportunities with PEACE Plus (SEUBP).
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Northern and Western Regional Assembly
The Square, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon
+353 (0)94 986 2970 +353 (0)94 986 2973 info@nwra.ie
The Assembly note there are no references to Smart Technologies within the Issues Papers. Smart
Region initiatives could also influence the forthcoming Monaghan LECP and programmes which may
arise from this Plan.
In Tourism, the Council may wish to consider how best to deliver on the ambitions of RPOs 4.6, 4.7,
and 4.8, given the importance of supporting Tourism infrastructure investment, including
placemaking projects, and ongoing co-operation with Cavan via Failte Ireland’s Branding proposition
of Ireland’s Ancient East.
It is hoped that the above observations are of assistance in shaping the new Monaghan Draft County
Development Plan in a manner that shall be of benefit to our communities. The Assembly look
forward to further engagement with Monaghan County Council as the preparation of the Draft plan
is progressed.
If you have any queries in respect of the above, then do not hesitate to revert.
Mise le meas,
Denis Kelly
Director