A review of Ireland's Retail Planning Guidelines has begun today, Minister of State Ciarán Cuffe has said.
The Retail Planning Guidelines were published in 2001 and were amended in 2005. Since the Guidelines were introduced in 2001, Ireland has undergone considerable economic and demographic change, particularly in settlement patterns, Minister Cuffe said.
'We are now in a period of economic downturn, with consequential reduced retail demand. However, forward planning must be realistic and responsive to all emerging social and economic scenarios,' he added.
An Issues Paper has been prepared by the Department and is now being published for public consultation. The Issues Paper focuses on the strategic issues for retail planning going forward.
The responses to the Issues Paper will help inform the preparation of draft new Guidelines to be issued for public consultation before the end of the year.
It is available to view and download from www.environ.ie. Responses are required by July 30.
