IPI REWARDS INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE IN PLANNING 
The eight category winners of this year’s Irish Planning Awards were announced by the Irish Planning Institute at the awards gala on 28 September, to acknowledge the latest range of projects and
plans taking place at local, county and regional levels around the country. CHAIR SETS GOALS FOR MEATH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM
Colm O’Rourke, Meath GAA Football Manager, has been appointed to chair the Meath Economic Development Forum, which was established to oversee the preparation and implementation of the new Meath Economic Development Strategy. DUBLIN COUNCIL SET SITES ON AFFORDABLE AND SOCIAL HOUSING STOCK INCREASE
Dublin’s four local authorities are calling on all home builders and housing developers to offer a range of houses and apartments with planning permission in unbuilt or partially commenced developments, under a scheme which provides for the advance purchase of turnkey residential units for social and affordable housing. LOCAL AUTHORITIES RENEW SEAI PARTNERSHIP ON SUSTAINABLE GOALS
The County and City Management Association (CCMA) has collaborated with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the SEAI’s Public Sector ‘Partnership’ Support Programme to enable local authorities to reach their decarbonising targets for 2030. FAIRSELECT PROPERTY PLATFORM ACCOMMODATES TRANSPARENCY
A new property management software solution is being used by local authorities such as Meath County Council, approved housing bodies such as Tuath Housing and Respond, and the Land Development Agency. ‘FairSelect’ aims to make the application process for cost rental accommodation and the selection and management of tenants, fair, unbiased and transparent across the board. €663M INVESTMENT UNDER NEW REGIONAL PROGRAMME 2021-27
Over €663m is to be invested across 18 counties within the Southern Region and the Eastern and Midland Region over the next seven years to help create quality jobs, transition to low carbon and support local authorities, higher education, enterprises and public bodies in delivering balanced regional development. €570M STIMULUS NEEDED FOR NORTHERN AND WESTERN REGION – NWRA
The Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) claims that a stimulus package of €570m should be provided between now and the end of the current EU funding period of 2027, with calls for the delivery of high-level priorities to support balanced regional development and to reduce regional i equalities in Ireland in its Pre-Budget Submission. CORK CITY COUNCIL JOINS EU ZERO CARBON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
The new Zero Carbon Infrastructure project has set an ambitious goal to support eight cities and r gions across Europe in their efforts to develop green transport and zero-carbon infrastructure for their territories. Cork City Council is part of this EU consortium in this four-year project in a bid to reach the carbon neutral targets by 2030. NOVEL APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MAPPED OUT
A pilot project has examined new approaches to public engagement under the Dundalk Local Area Plan 2024-2030 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Louth. It was part of a research initiative to enhance SEA public participation in Ireland, funded by the EPA and the Office of the Planning Regulator. NEW BILL TO PROVIDE A BLUEPRINT FOR PLANNING REFORM
Major reforms in Ireland’s planning system are now afoot following recent government approval of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, following a comprehensive 15-month review. The proposed legislation aims to bring greater clarity, certainty and consistency on how planning decisions are made, and to make the system more coherent and user-friendly. LIMERICK COLLABORATES ON UNIQUE SOCIAL HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN
The European Investment Bank has joined forces with Limerick City and County Council in an innovative partnership to drive investment in retrofitting to reduce energy consumption and costs in social housing, thereby having a transformative impact on local communities.