The Act establishes the Office of the Planning Regulator who shall be a corporation sole with perpetual succession and an official seal and with the following functions: to evaluate and assess development plans, variations of development plans, local area plans, regional spatial and economic strategies; to conduct research; to conduct education and training programmes; to oversee the delivery of effective planning services to the public by planning authorities; to prepare a strategy statement; and to evaluate and assess strategic transport plans made by the National Transport Authority, among others.
The Act inserts in the Planning and Development Act 2000 a Chapter IIA National Planning Framework. The objectives of the National Planning Framework are— (a) to establish a broad national plan for the Government in relation to the strategic planning and sustainable development of urban and rural areas, (b) to secure balanced regional development by maximising the potential of the regions, and support proper planning and sustainable development, and (c) to secure the co-ordination of regional spatial and economic strategies and city and county development plans.
Part 5 regulates Marine Spatial Plan and their requirements. the objectives of the marine spatial plan shall be (a) to analyse and organise activities in the maritime area for the purpose of achieving ecological, economic and social priorities; (b) to establish a national strategy for Government in relation to the strategic planning and sustainable development in the maritime area; (c) to apply an ecosystem based approach for the purpose of supporting proper planning and sustainable development in the maritime area, and (d) to encourage the colocation of relevant activities and developments in the maritime area.