asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the progress of plans for integrated urban development which will be submitted later this year to the EC.
25.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Urban Development Plans.
41.
asked the Minister for Finance if, in the context of the preparation of urban development plans which will go to the European Commission later this year, he will consider the views of voluntary and community organisations in the preparation of such plans; and if so, the mechanism of consultation he envisages.
I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 41 and 25 together.
The Government have announced that programmes are to be prepared initially for EC funding for the Greater Dublin Area, Greater Cork, and the West. The programme for Dublin is being prepared first, and it is intended that it will serve as the model for the others. Ultimately the programme approach will cover the country as a whole.
In regard to the Greater Dublin Area, consultants will be appointed shortly to carry out a study which should form the basis for the programme and a steering committee has been established to oversee this work. This committee comprises representatives of the Departments of Finance, Agriculture and Food, Energy, Environment, Labour, Industry and Commerce, Tourism and Transport; the Dublin City and County Manager; Dublin Chamber of Commerce, and the Commission of the European Communities. The chairman and secretariat are provided by the Department of Finance. It is open to voluntary and community organisations to provide views and proposals to the steering committee.
The Government are considering various aspects of the programmes for the other areas, including the precise geographical areas for each programme and the appropriate structures for the preparation of the programmes. I hope to be able to make announcements on this before long. It will not be possible for all organisations to be represented directly on the steering groups for programmes, but it will certainly be possible for all organisations to provide their views and proposals to the steering groups.