Green councillors warn of Government’s lack of NDP commitment to investment at local level

Green Party councillors have warned that the government’s new National Development Plan lacks any commitment to investment at local level. The Green Party are calling on Ministers to urgently publish details on long-term funding plans for key local authority initiatives.

The Green Party’s Spokesperson on Planning and Local Government, Councillor Oisín O’Connor has criticised the lack of commitment and detail to projects to be delivered by local authorities in the new National Development Plan:

“Whether it’s tackling vacancy & dereliction in our city, town and village centres, retrofitting or road safety works, local councils have a vital role to play in upgrading local and regional infrastructure. It’s staggering that this government would completely overlook this role and commit no further investment to these programmes in the new National Development Plan.”

“In the previous NDP in 2021 there were over 50 references to the role of local authorities in delivering infrastructure projects. In the new government’s NDP there are just 4. Local authorities across the country are the unsung heroes of infrastructure delivery in our communities, frequently doing more with less.”

“Ministers need to urgently clarify to local authorities what funding will and won’t be available for vital local projects into the future so that council staff can plan long-term infrastructure delivery.”

Green Party Housing Spokesperson, Councillor Oliver Moran is calling for the government to get serious on supporting councils with investment to tackle vacancy, dereliction and energy poverty.

"Local authorities up and down the country are ready to do their part on improving our existing buildings. This National Development Plan was a missed opportunity to commit serious resources to local authorities to retrofit more council housing, tackle vacancy through compulsory purchases and activate the derelict sites that blight our streets."

"Ministers just haven't got a grasp on the enormity of the task in front of us as a country. Retrofit and vacant homes grants are flying off the shelves, but the government has a duty to support councils in retrofitting our social housing which needs an extra €230m over the next 5 years to meet the targets set by the last government."

"Ministers need to think beyond green field development and land speculation - their existing approach is leaving our existing buildings behind."