17.— The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 27:

“27A.— (1) Where a regional authority receives a notice from a planning authority under section 11(1) it shall prepare submissions or observations for the purposes of section 11(2).

(2) Submissions or observations made by a regional authority under section 11(2) shall contain a report on matters that, in the opinion of the regional authority, require consideration by the planning authority concerned in making the development plan.

(3) The submissions or observations and report of the regional authority shall include, but shall not be limited to, recommendations regarding each of the following matters as respects the area to which the development plan relates:

(a) any policies or objectives for the time being of the Government or any Minister of the Government in relation to national and regional population targets, and the best distribution of residential development and related employment development with a view to—

(i) promoting consistency as far as possible, between housing, settlement and economic objectives in the draft development plan and core strategy and the regional planning guidelines, and

(ii) assisting in drafting the core strategy of the draft development plan;

(b) the objectives of providing physical, economic or social infrastructure in a manner that promotes balanced regional development;

(c) planning for the best use of land having regard to location, scale and density of new development to benefit from investment of public funds in transport infrastructure and public transport services; and

(d) collaboration between the planning authority and the regional authority in respect of integrated planning for transport and land use, in particular in relation to large scale developments and the promotion of sustainable transportation strategies in urban and rural areas, including the promotion of measures to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and address the necessity of adaptation to climate change.

(4) One or more regional authorities, who have been directed by the Minister to make regional planning guidelines for the purpose of section 21(3) in relation to a combined area of the regional authorities or in respect of any particular part or parts of the area which lie within the area of those regional authorities, shall make joint submissions or observations and issue a joint report for the purpose of this section, in respect of the combined area or particular part or parts of the area concerned and shall send a copy of the joint submissions or observations and joint report to the Minister.”.