Ruairí Quinn
Question:70 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on his meeting in Cork on 25 January 2000 with members of the regional assembly of the southern and eastern regions. [3256/00]
Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
John Bruton
Question:132 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with members of the Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon. [1731/00]
John Bruton
Question:133 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his recent meeting in Cork with members of the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2202/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 132 and 133 together.
The Government met the Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon on 19 January 2000 and the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly in Cork on 25 January. These meetings were a continuation of the wide-ranging process of consultation with regional interests which the Government engaged in when drawing up the national development plan. The particular purpose of the meetings was to ascertain the views of the assemblies on the main strategic issues facing their regions which needed to be addressed in the context of the formulation of the operational pro grammes under the plan. The meetings with the assemblies were followed, in each case, by simultaneous consultation fora with a very wide representation of regional interests on the main themes of the plan, namely, economic and social infrastructure, the productive sector, including rural development, and human resources, including social inclusion.
These meetings provided the opportunity for very fruitful exchanges of views between the Government and the assemblies and other regional representatives. The assembly speakers who participated in the discussions generally welcomed the overall thrust of the plan, its commitment to balanced regional development, and its provisions for each of the regions. The main strategic concerns expressed by the assemblies were: the need to ensure delivery of the planned infrastructure; the importance of improved road access within and between regions and to ports; the importance of parity of access of all areas to advanced communications; the importance of cultural, recreational and sports facilities in assisting balanced social and economic development; the need for better sub-regional spreads for tourism throughout both regions and for investment to lengthen the tourism season; the importance of rural development, in particular through diversification and provision of off-farm, income-generating activities; the importance of promoting social inclusion; the urgency of improving child care facilities.
The national development plan addresses these concerns and the Government will ensure the necessary follow-up actions will be implemented through the operational programmes under the plan which are currently being drafted.