Sir, - Your Editorial (May 30th), on Raw Material for Planners was a commentary on ESRI findings on the Greater Dublin Region. It is testimony to the diligence of the planning profession in Ireland that the recommendations made by the ESRI, including higher densities, a greater focus on established settlements and provision of cultural and social facilities alongside homes and workplaces, have for long been articulated and promoted by planners. A reason why these policies may not have been fully put into practice, lies in the fact that planning does not operate in isolation and it needs certainty both in economic investment and in mature political support to secure delivery of its objectives. Where these have not been available, planners have, nevertheless, still sought to manage and provide as effectively as possible the core needs such as shelter, workplaces etc.
In this scenario a perception of "haphazard development" in our towns and countryside becomes more understandable. Given the strong economic health of the State we must now assume that economic investment is available. Politically, we also have a consensus at national level that comprehensive long-term planning is a vital activity and a sound investment in itself. This week at the National Planning Conference, Minister Dempsey reasserted the Government's acknowledgement of the professional work done by Irish planners to date and the work now to be done. However, long-term strategic planning is ultimately meaningless unless individual local schemes are able to be implemented. For example, broad support for quality public transport means that virtually all areas will need to be re-appraised for options including higher densities, the introduction of new uses and restraint of unchecked rural housing. Yet support often fades away at local level when the practical effect of policy is manifested downwards into individual schemes. This makes recommendations such as those presented by the ESRI difficult to achieve.
To move beyond this impasse, planners will continue to provide professional evidence of flaws in certain schemes and of opportunities in others, and will recommend solutions; but only the "raw material" of mature local political support will allow these to be effectively delivered. Government and society in general should now focus its attention in this direction, as part of the ongoing objective to improve our town and country environments. - Yours, etc.,
C. McGarry, Chairperson, Royal Town Planning, Institute (Irish branch)