Vol. 510 No. 4
70 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the consultations, if any, which have taken place with the two super regional authorities in relation to the national development plan; when he will publish the plan; the further consultation with the authorities intended before the plan is submitted to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22697/99]
There has been intensive consultation with regional interests in the formulation of the national development plan. The Government invited and received submissions from the eight NUTS III regional authorities and the Western Development Commission on the priorities which should govern the plan. Pending the establishment of the two new NUTS II regional assemblies, the Government also invited the constituent regional authorities within each of the new regions to prepare proposals on plan priorities for their region. In response, two very comprehensive reports were prepared by Fitzpatrick Associates which were endorsed by the two regions and submitted by them to the Government.
In recent weeks, I met separately with delegations representing both the existing. NUTS III regional authorities and the new NUTS II regional assemblies, following the latters' inaugural meetings in early October. In advance of these meetings, I transmitted to the delegations, as a basis for the discussion, an overview of the draft NDP. This overview set out in some detail, and on a regional basis, the proposed priorities, structure and indicative financial allocations in the plan. At the meetings, the responses to the overview were positive. There was also a welcome for the level of consultation with the regional authorities, although the limitations on the assemblies' involvement was acknowledged, given their very recent establishment and the EU deadline for submission of the plan. However, in this context, it should be noted that the members of the regional assemblies are also members of the constituent regional authorities within the two regions.
This part of the consultative process has now concluded and I am confident that the plan will be seen to have responded to the priorities of the two regions. The plan itself will be published on 15 November next and submitted to the EU Commission. I would, however, point out that, consistent with the relevant EU regulations, it is the Government which is responsible for the formulation of the national development plan, having taken account of all representations made to it.
