Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

Brendan Barrett, Communications Consultant

European Grants and Funding

• Regional & urban development
• Agriculture & rural development
• Maritime & fisheries policies

Planning and Development Bill 2023

Speaker: Mark Thuillier, Senior Associate, A&L Goodbody LLP

• Improved consistency and alignment throughout all tiers of planning
• Significant restructuring and resourcing of An Bord Pleanála
• The introduction of statutory timelines for decision-making
• New strategic ten-year development plans for local authorities
• Reform of planning judicial review
• New provisions for urban development zones

Community Engagement Strategies for Development & Placemaking Technologies

Speaker: Carol Tallon, Director, Property District

• Statutory public consultation for development
• Innovative community engagement and measuring impact
• Emerging technologies to enhance citizen participation, including AI and immersive technologies (virtual and mixed reality) 
• Crossover of Proptech, Govtech and Smart City initiatives for more sustainable, resilient and inclusive development

Foundation and Benefits of Smart Cities Technologies Shaping the Future of Urban Development

Speaker: Darach Mac Donncha, Programme Manager, Smart Docklands

• Technological Drivers – IoT, AI and Machine Learning, Cloud computing
• Future Projections and Growth
• Challenges and Considerations for the successful implementation and operation of smart cities
• Sustainable and Resilient Development

Environmental Sustainability and Resilience in Urban Development

Speaker: Colm Ryan, Planning Director, MKO

• Biodiversity planning
• Climate action plans
• Renewable energy
• Low carbon tech

Urban Design and Placemaking – Designing Human Centred Development

• Practical advice on promoting and achieving a 15-minute city
• Addressing gentrification and displacement
• Affordable housing

Transportation Planning and Mobility Solutions – Session

Developing Connectivity Tools: Improving Urban Spaces with the assistance of Connectivity Analysis

Speaker: Deborah John, National Transport Authority (NTA)

• Public Transport Accessibility Levels
• Access to Opportunities and Services
• Adapting the tools for use in Ireland
• Applying the tools, e.g. Local Transport Plans

Enhanced Transport Demand Forecasting and Digitalisation

Speaker: Kevin Cox, National Transport Authority (NTA)

• Overview of the NTA National Forecast Review Project
• A project to enhance the accuracy of NTA forecasts for population, employment and education
• Involves consultation with every Local Authority to better forecast growth at the settlement and sub-settlement level
• Use of improved data collection platform
• Research regarding existing forecast methods

Planning Cities and Towns for Successful Bus Services

Speaker: Eoin Farrell, National Transport Authority (NTA)

• Planning for “transport-oriented development”
• Major investment in bus operations, infrastructure, fleet, and technology have been taking place in Ireland
• Illustrated guidance document for planners and developers
• Greater coordination among national plans, national investments, local authorities’ development decisions and private development