Vol. 502 No. 4
117 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Finance the progress to date concerning a recent recommendation to establish a national spatial development strategy; the timescale involved before this strategy can be outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8545/99]
I assume the question refers to the recent ESRI report on national investment priorities for the period 2000-6. The report favours an appropriate spatial development strategy and in this regard puts forward the concept of a nodal strategy which would involve investing in a number of growth centres which would act as suitable development nodes for their regional hinterlands. The ESRI regard this strategy as the best way of achieving balanced regional development.
The conclusions and recommendations contained in the report are currently being examined by my Department in the context of preparing the National Development Plan 2000-2006. My Department will, in addition, be assessing the findings of the consultancy reports on each of the two new regions, which are due to be published shortly.
